Rent a Friend

In this age where people live mostly in isolation emotionally, there really is the yearn for a friend in need from the bottom of most people's hearts. This movie starts off in a seemingly ridiculous way, but in the end you'd think, hey, I'd like to rent a friend some time... I'd definitely recommend this video -- it's dazzling funny with substance.

RENT-A-FRIEND; the title is english, but it's a (typical) Dutch film, by Eddy Terstall. Well, as most of his selfwritten films also this one deals with young adults, esp. assertive women, relationships (where love isn't really jumping off the screen, it is more defined by sex) and the same cast. This film was slighlty different as he had a big budget, yes he had a whole million dollars (rumours go that actors were fully paid !). This is the main difference to his other films. The money was clearly invested in locations, this time not the recognisable 'backyard' of the director, the Amsterdammish neighbourhood 'the Jordan', but the very modern buildings and flats in Rotterdam. This decor suited perfectly the plot, which is a parody on modern society; A writer (Rifka Lodeizen) of a famous soapopera, in which she puts her own life experiences, breaks up with her boyfriend (Marc van Uchelen), because besides painting mexicans from above (a big circle with a small one in it), he doesn't make money. Through the soap opera, boyfriend sees she's sleeping with her boss. He sets up a company, where you can rend friends (no sex) and is very successful. The film is entertaining, more structured, but still lacks sometimes in its actorsachievements and dialogues, but certainly deserves a larger (Dutch) audience than it's getting now. *** out of five

Everybody seems to think that this movie is funny and well-acted and stuff. Let me assure you: it is not! Just because it is a little better than the average dutch movies, doesn't mean that it is a GOOD movie. I saw it after reading all this reviews at IMDb. All those actors look like if they are acting in a soap-show. Yeah, it's all about that, but it is not meant to look like it all the time... So, don't watch this movie, it's a waste of your time, if you want to see a dutch movie, watch LEK!

Rent a Friend is a satirical accusation on modern day "consumentism". But that criticism is never annoying, the movie never wants to give a new morale. After all, it is a comedy. And a funny one. Arthur offers people in Holland's 2000 to hire him as a True Friend. He starts his own company and it becomes a huge success. At first it all looks a bit unbelievable, but along the film you realize today's society could be that crazy and you would sure believe it all would became true, some day. Some people rated this film with a 1. They are probably the people this movie is all about: people with a lot of luck, who made big money and can only talk about money since that day. And have lost their sense of humor somewhere along that way. Because this movie is one of the funniest movies from Holland in the last five years.

I haven't seen that many good Dutch movies. And after seeing the dreadful COSTA! which has the same producers as this one, I really did not think it would be okay. But IT IS! It took me a few minutes to get into the story, but once the guy starts his own company the story gets really funny. I ended up really liking the movie, especially the scenario, which is truly brilliant! Humour comes in different forms (from Nutty Professor to Clerks), but this was truly unique. It wasn't haha funny, nor was it woeha! funny. It was more like 'mmm, wow'-funny. You'll only understand when you see the movie....