Movie Review: Rent-A-Pal

Although the new thriller, Rent-A-Pal, is an occasionally encouraging debut feature from director Jon Stevenson, it fails to succeed fully on enough levels that it leaves less on the table for this particular outing than it does setting the table for the director’s next endeavor, whatever that may be.

Set in a dreary Denver, Colorado in the early 1990s, Rent-A-Pal follows David (Brian Landis Folkins) as he carries on somewhat meekly in a seemingly endless routine of caring for his invalid mother (Kathleen Brady). David, however, has been searching for love via a local video dating service called “Video Rendezvous.” While at the service, David happens upon a bargain-bin VHS tape titled “Rent-A-Pal” which he takes home and subsequently watches. The tape is hosted by Andy (Will Wheaton), an odd individual that offers David compassion, company, and friendship, but at an incredible cost.

The film is the directorial debut of Jon Stevenson—who also wrote, produced, and edited it—and it is a promising debut, but definitely leaves room for improvement. Stevenson shows a willingness to place the camera anywhere to garner that interesting shot. There are plenty of shots showcasing the innerworkings of David’s VCR and those moments set an eerie, foreboding tone throughout. However, the visual flair that he shows does not overshadow the shortcomings of the story itself.

Brian Landis Folkins (left) and Wil Wheaton in “Rent-A-Pal.” Photo by IFC Films.

While David’s descent into darkness may be evident from the beginning of the film, that journey is part of the visceral thrill of a film such as this and that simply is not present here. Early on, David appears to be on the verge of achieving some modicum of happiness and then, inexplicably spirals out of control with the casualness of the flick of a switch. It is as though the film wants us to look upon David as a new version of Norman Bates, but without the buildup to make it seem like the logical next step.

Brian Landis Folkins does an admirable job essentially holding the film together as David, himself, slowly unravels. Wil Wheaton, however, isn’t given nearly enough to do to be the maniacal evil presence the film appears to expect him to be. There is a particular scene where David and his new girlfriend (Amy Rutledge) are enjoying a moment together on the couch in David’s room, when the television comes on and Andy’s tape begins playing and Andy has a concerned and angry, yet hurt look on his face that makes one wish there had been more of that psychological play at work throughout the film.

As far as feature debuts go, there have been far worse than Rent-A-Pal. However, there have also been a considerable number of better ones. Ultimately, the film showcases a promising talent that could potentially evolve into something a bit more impressive.

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Mike Tyrkus

Editor in Chief at CinemaNerdz.com

An independent filmmaker, co-writer and director of over a dozen short films, the Editor in Chief of CinemaNerdz.com has spent much of the last three decades as a writer and editor specializing in biographical and critical reference sources in literature and the cinema, beginning in February 1991 reviewing films for his college newspaper. He was a member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, as well as the group's webmaster and one-time President for over a decade until the group ceased to exist. His contributions to film criticism can be found in Magill's Cinema Annual, VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (of which he was the editor for nearly a decade until it too ceased to exist), the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, and the St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia (on which he collaborated with editor Andrew Sarris). He has also appeared on the television program Critic LEE Speaking alongside Lee Thomas of FOX2 and Adam Graham, of The Detroit News. He currently lives in the Detroit area with his wife and their dogs.

@miketyrkus

Mike Tyrkus

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