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

Carmen Electra

Carmen Electra

Audrey

Melissa Joan Hart

Melissa Joan Hart

Holly Washburn

Don Novello

Don Novello

Rico

Joseph D. Reitman

Joseph D. Reitman

Vincent

Andrew Kavovit

Andrew Kavovit

Dennis

Ryan Browning

Calvin

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

¡Three Amigos!

6.3

¡Three Amigos!

1986

Under the Yum-Yum Tree

5.9

Under the Yum-Yum Tree

1963

The Librarian: Quest for the Spear

6.3

The Librarian: Quest for the Spear

2004

The Rage of Paris

5.8

The Rage of Paris

1938

The Prince of Tides

6.6

The Prince of Tides

1991

Norm of the North

4.6

Norm of the North

2016

Bad, Cold, and Cantankerous

5.2

Bad, Cold, and Cantankerous

1969

For Richer or Poorer

6.0

For Richer or Poorer

1997

Romance & Cigarettes

6.0

Romance & Cigarettes

2005

A Cock and Bull Story

6.2

A Cock and Bull Story

2005

That Funny Feeling

5.9

That Funny Feeling

1965