In Japan, American actor Phillip Vandarploeug (Brendan Fraser) drifts through life, taking on bit parts following his success in a toothpaste commercial. Soon, his agent books him a role as a mourner at a funeral for the company Rental Family, run by Shinji (Takehiro Hira).

Japan has many eccentricities that seem quirky to foreigners. Unique pop-culture icons, fashion, music, and food items, the idea of hiring actors to substitute real connections in social events seems to be par for the course. Rental families have been in Japan since the 1980s, and there are currently approximately 300 companies that offer the service.

Brendan Fraser’s earnest, salt-of-the-earth empathy grounds the movie. A pure, lonely soul far from home surrounded by thousands of strangers, Phillip has lost his purpose. Through his work with Rental Family, Phillip not only finds a worthwhile career but also rediscovers his ability to connect with those around him, in turn learning about the culture of his adopted city in a personable, organic way.

Whereas Phillip finds the humanity in what he does for his clients, it is Shinji who sets the company’s standard, stressing the team’s services as clear business transactions that should be void of emotions to avoid crossing professional boundaries. Phillip serves as a catalyst that disrupts this philosophy, forcing the team to question their work and why they do it.

Verdict: As calm and carefree as the man who leads it, the movie captures the everyday beauty of big city living. 3.5 stars.

Luke McWilliams, themovieclub.net. Viewed at Dendy Cinemas.