Rent a Friend (2000)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Eddy Terstall

Writer:

Eddy Terstall (writer)

Release Date:

2 March 2000 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

A romantic comedy about money

Plot:

In Rent a Friend the talented painter ARTHUR is suffering from an artist's block. Alfred does not bother about becoming rich and famous...

Plot Keywords:

Ambition | Japan | Love | Fortune | Based On Book

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Marc van Uchelen	...	Alfred
Rifka Lodeizen	...	Moniek
Nadja Hüpscher	...	Françoise
Natasja Loturco	...	Anja
Femke Lakerveld	...	Carolina / Myrthe
Huub Stapel	...	Dhr. Bloedworst
Victor Löw	...	Dhr. van Duitschenbloed
Peer Mascini	...	Smulders
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Maria Arenas	...	Exotic waitress
Henk Bakboord	...	Peter / Roy
Marlies Bark	...	Marjan
Edwin Bolderheij	...	Max
Arthur De Boer	...	Tony
Daan Ekkel	...	Wiert
Jaap van Eyck	...	Dhr Vogelaar
Jon Goldberg	...	Lonely man commercial
Marc Hammel	...	Evangelist
Thomas Kamp	...	Friend #5
Miki Kobossen	...	Nina
Johanneke van Kooten	...	Tina
Bert Koster	...	Dave
Guilly Koster	...	Gerald
John Kouwenberg	...	Rabbi
Jacob Kurc	...	Abdul
Mike Meijer	...	Rob
Daniel Niemann	...	Mr. Pieters
Koen Plate	...	Bogers
Eugénie Schellen	...	Betty
Ariane Schluter	...	Mrs. Bloedworst
Hidde Simons	...	Friend #3
Melvin Simons	...	Desk klerk
Natasja van Tilburg	...	Barbara
Jürgen Tjon a Fong	...	Friend #1
Ruben van der Meer	...	Menno
Manouk van der Meulen	...	Mevr. Pieters
Lucretia van der Vloot	...	Frida
Robert Jan Westdijk	...	Friend #2
Tim de Zwart	...	Frits

Also Known As:

Rent-a-friend (Netherlands) (alternative spelling)
Rentafriend (Netherlands) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands

Company:

Jordaan Film

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Zomergasten: (#16.5)" (2003)

I recommend it. Even if it is on video.

Am I really the first, and so far only person to comment on this film? This only goes to show how unjustly ignored (by the public, not the press) this film is/was.

The idea on which Rent-a-friend is based is brilliant. Haven't we all at one time or another longed for a friend to suit our every (non-sexual) need?

Yes, the acting is at times somewhat wooden, but that only adds to the whole comedic situation in my opinion. Yes, the dialogues are cheesy, sometimes verging on the ridiculous, but I would only describe that as being 'camp' rather than bad writing.

The situations in which friend Alfred finds himself are often hilarious. (Or is it that only a Dutch person can laugh about a man seeking a friend to watch German soccer with?). The whole development of Alfred's ploy to make money to impress Moniek into a multi national operation is still believable, and like I said before, funny.

And funny is what a comedy should be.

Rent a friend is lighthearted, a bit over the top, but certainly not worse than a lot of so called comedies we get to see most of the time. I recommend it. Even if it is on video, because the film has long left the theatres.