Rent Control

Rent Control

9/9/2005 1h 35m 4.4/10

Overview

Aspiring actors in New York try to keep the death of one's aunt a secret so they can stay in her cheap apartment.

Director

Craig Borden

Top Billed Cast

Andrew Kavovit

Andrew Kavovit

Dennis

Carmen Electra

Carmen Electra

Audrey

Joseph D. Reitman

Joseph D. Reitman

Vincent

Ryan Browning

Ryan Browning

Calvin

Melissa Joan Hart

Melissa Joan Hart

Holly Washburn

Don Novello

Don Novello

Rico

Reviews

Wuchak

7/18/2025

7/10

**_Fun farce_** A young couple from Iowa (Melissa Joan Hart & Ryan Browning) move to the Big Apple with dreams of stardom, but realize that acquiring an apartment is the real key to success, not talent. They are forced to stay with Aunt Agatha & her fifteen cats. When something unexpected happens, they try to hide it from the weird landlord (Joseph Reitman). "Rent Control" (also known as "Aunt Agatha's Apartment") had a troubled release history. It was shot in late 2001 before 9/11 and then shelved for not finding a distribution channel; when a distribution company picked it up they edited it to make it sellable to ABC Family Movie, who aired it. It was later released on DVD in late 2006. The problem is that "Rent Control" isn't a family movie. It's an adult comedy. Yes, it has the lovable Melissa Joan Hart and an overall lighthearted, fun vibe and there isn't any cussing, but it does include some adult scenes. For instance, one woman the young couple seek to rent an apartment from is a sadomasochist. But the biggest non-family issue is the presence of a necrophiliac janitor in Aunt Agatha's apartment building. You heard that right, a freakin' necrophiliac. There's a scene where the janitor in question puts a "Do Not Disturb" sign on his door and it's just puke-inducingly SICK to consider what was going to occur in that apartment. Sure, it was a stab at black humor, but it failed. Thankfully, that's a very small part of the story. Melissa as Holly is her usually cute, winsome self and she's perfectly contrasted by the worldly Audrey (Carmen Electra), who may or may not come between her and her beau. Andrew Kavovit also has a significant role as an elevator man infatuated with Electra. Despite the failed attempt at black humor involving necrophilia, "Rent Control" is an amusing situational comedy with a quality cast & characters. From the get-go, it's clear that it's a farce and not to be taken seriously. Anyone who takes it seriously needs to visit the psych ward. The flick's entertaining and that's the bottom line. It runs 1 hour, 26 minutes. GRADE: B+

Similar Movies

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

6.7

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

1990

Breakfast at Tiffany's

7.6

Breakfast at Tiffany's

1961

Gremlins 2: The New Batch

6.5

Gremlins 2: The New Batch

1990

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze

6.2

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze

1991

The First Time

4.0

The First Time

1982

Stranger Than Fiction

7.3

Stranger Than Fiction

2006

Pocketful of Miracles

7.3

Pocketful of Miracles

1961

Pieces of April

6.5

Pieces of April

2003

The Docks of New York

6.9

The Docks of New York

1928

Making of a Male Model

4.4

Making of a Male Model

1983

My Man Is a Loser

4.2

My Man Is a Loser

2014