Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Rent-A-Pal Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 14, 2021

“Rent-A-Pal” is set in 1990, but it’s a relevant picture for today’s world of frustrated people dealing with isolation. This isn’t what writer/director Jon Stevenson initially intended, but he’s found a way to make a movie about today’s increasingly isolated world, creating a slow-burn chiller about one man’s decent into madness due to suffocating domestic experiences and his own distance from a functional relationship. While other filmmakers have touched on the toxic relationship between man and machine, Stevenson gets oddly specific with his writing, which turns a simple quest for VHS attention into a downward spiral of insanity. “Rent-A-Pal” has flashes of originality, and Stevenson has a good eye for casting, finding actors capable to doing something memorable with a shapeless threat. It’s not the tightest feature around, in need of more editorial pruning, but when it focuses on blurred lines of reality, it’s vividly executed with a wonderfully dark sense of humor.

David (Brian Landis Folkins) lives a very lonely life, but he’s not alone. He’s a caretaker for his ailing mother, Lucille (Kathleen Brady), who’s dealing with dementia, living in the basement. A 40-year-old man, David is looking for love but understands his limited appeal to women, purchasing a spot with the dating company Video Rendezvous, trying his luck with VHS tapes of other lonely people looking to make a match. After he botches his profile shoot, David comes across a “Rent-A-Pal” tape in a discount bin, bringing it home for a look. David is soon exposed to Andy (an enthusiastic Wil Wheaton), the Fred Rogers-esque host of the tape, which simulates an afternoon of fun with a close pal. Initially confused by the recording, David is gradually pulled into its intimate conversations, with the power of such a connection messing with his head.

Stevenson is quick to establish David as a troubled man with a lot to deal with in his life, refusing to go the easy route and simply stamp “loser” on the man to begin the story. The screenplay tries to keep David a dimensional character, struggling to keep his eyes on his mother, who’s not connected to reality, believing her husband, who died a decade ago, is still around. He’s also frustrated with the dating world, trying his best to put himself out there via Video Rendezvous, which presents videotapes to members, allowing them to scan greetings and assess quick biographical details. In this mix is Lisa (an engagingly gentle Amy Rutledge), a kindly woman who has a few things in common with David. The first half of “Rent- A-Pal” explores David’s stasis and urge to break out of his routine, only he’s awkward and ill-prepared, inspiring him to take a chance on a strange VHS tape buried in a clearance pile of bad production ideas at Video Rendezvous.

Once Andy makes his entrance, “Rent-A-Pal” hits the right note of oddity, with the video buddy introducing himself and sharing his mission for the tape, pausing for responses from the viewer. Andy is cheery and eager to make a friend, and while David is initially weirded out by the presentation, he soon joins in, treating Andy as the companion he’s never had. They play card games, tell jokes, and have fun. Matters darken when Andy details a childhood of abuse, which David relates to, and their games of confession reach troubling areas of past misconduct. Andy is a bad influence with an ugly side, and Stevenson likes to play with this unreality. Is the VHS chum a disturbed individual, or is he merely a conduit for David’s simmering resentments toward women and his mother? “Rent-A-Pal” really connects when it remains in this gray area, which reaches scenes of unsettling sexuality and jealousy, with Andy hostile to the idea of Lisa, who decides to take a chance on David for a date.

Rent-A-Pal Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.40:1 aspect ratio) presentation does well with facial surfaces, finding the extreme close-ups used in "Rent-A-Pal" offering interesting textures. Detail is strong with decorative additions around David's home, and visits to office spaces and a roller rink offer a full view of room space. Costuming retains fibrous qualities, including heavier denim and softer nightshirts. VHS footage is replicated with intended softness. Colors are comfortable, enjoying a brighter appearance with period hues, while scenes involving David's domestic life handle with a cooler palette, edging toward a blueish appearance. Skintones are natural. Delineation is acceptable. Mild banding and periodic blockiness is present.

Rent-A-Pal Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides a clear understanding of performance choices, with a distinct difference between David's real world and his slightly muddier VHS experience. Yelling matches and assorted sonic pressure points are crisply defined. Scoring cues are compelling, with an electro sound pushing out into the surrounds, while a low-end enjoys a milder beat. Atmospherics are also circular, providing a feel for the hypnotic pull of the videotape experience and crowd bustle.

Rent-A-Pal Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Making 'Rent-A-Pal'" (59:47, HD) is an extensive look at the production process for the movie, beginning with the very first day of the shoot in 2018. Producer Jimmy Weber provides most of the roving camerawork and breathless commentary, guiding viewers through the days as the cast and crew figure out how to put "Rent-A-Pal" together. It's a fascinating, fly-on-the-wall study of technical achievements and set camaraderie, examining the directorial process and various creative challenges. Wil Wheaton's time on a stage is also detailed, offering a look at the process of performance and VHS camera replication, highlighting before and after shots. There's no post-mortem discussion here, just a raw view of filmmaking, providing fans of "Rent-A-Pal" a direct examination of director Jon Stevenson and his collaborators in motion.

• "Hi, I'm Andy" (22:18, HD) is a highlight reel of Wheaton's performance as the titular video buddy, offering viewers an extended look at the actor's performance and Andy's various talking points. In a way, it provides those looking for a cheap thrill with a chance to replicate the "Rent-A-Pal" experience at home, complete with moments of menace.

• "Meet Your Matches" (3:58, HD) is a brief collection of uncut "Video Rendezvous" dating profiles, permitting an extended appreciation for the actresses playing the oddball subjects.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:50, HD) is included.

Rent-A-Pal Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Rent-A-Pal" isn't a nail-biter, as Stevenson takes his time with the material, resulting in an overlong movie (108 minutes) that goes slack on more than a few occasions as lengthy shots are indulged and scenes of obsessive behavior grow repetitive. Pace could be tighter, but when the picture digs into David's melting mind, it offers excellent displays of sickness. Those going into "Rent-A-Pal" expecting something evil are advised to lower expectations. Stevenson wants to keep his film as human as possible, even making the tale more about caretaker woes than mental illness. That's what keeps the endeavor compelling, as the helmer strives to avoid expectations and develop a bizarre atmosphere of trust between an unwell man and the videotape there for him in his time of need.