Rent Control
"All's fair in love and rent."
Aspiring actors in New York try to keep the death of one's aunt a secret so they can stay in her cheap apartment.
Top Cast
-
Melissa Joan Hart
Holly Washburn
-
Ryan Browning
Calvin
-
Carmen Electra
Audrey
-
Andrew Kavovit
Dennis
-
Don Novello
Rico
-
Joseph D. Reitman
Vincent
-
Lynne Marie Stewart
Aunt Agatha
-
Beege Barkette
Claire Fealy
-
Richard Livingston
Leonard Lasso
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.
Rating
4.7
/ 10
13 Reviews 0 Popular
1 Reviews
-
Wuchak7 Jul 18, 2025**_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+
Trailers & Clips
Recommendations
When Manny Singer's wife dies, his young daughter Molly becomes mute and withdrawn. To help cope with looking after Molly, he hires sassy housekeeper Corrina Washington, who coaxes Molly out of her shell and shows father and daughter a whole new way of life. Manny and Corrina's friendship delights Molly and enrages the other townspeople.
Corrina, Corrina
6.7 1994
Janie, a rising marketing executive living in The Big Apple, returns to her hometown of Woodland Falls when her Great-Uncle Randall passes away. Randall has even arranged for his farmhand, Dylan to help at the event, which is being held in the farm’s sprawling barn. Aware that her Manhattan boyfriend is anxious for her to return to the city so the pair can jet off to a previously planned holiday on the beach, Janie begins to feel an unexpected emotional tug about living life in a more authentic, meaningful way.
A Merry Christmas Wish
6.0 2022
When a small town woman with southern charm is given a big promotion managing a store in the Big Apple, she tries to adopt a big city personality and it leads to disastrous results.
Summer in the City
6.0 2016
Shortly after David Abbott moves into his new San Francisco digs, he has an unwelcome visitor on his hands: winsome Elizabeth Masterson, who asserts that the apartment is hers -- and promptly vanishes. When she starts appearing and disappearing at will, David thinks she's a ghost, while Elizabeth is convinced she's alive.
Just Like Heaven
7.0 2005
Big city girls Julia and her best friend Sydney take a trip to a dude ranch in Wyoming for a fun weekend getaway, but after a brawl at the local bar, the girls are sentenced to stay in town and perform community service. Along the way, Julia finds love and her true calling in life.
Valentine Ever After
6.3 2016
Interior designer Lily returns home to help her Aunt Maggie run her marina-side bed and breakfast when she meets Marcus, a handsome seaplane pilot whose work delivering rescue dogs helps Lily discover that home really is where the heart is
Love on Harbor Island
6.2 2020
Ambitious artist Jabari attempts to balance success and love when he moves into his dream Manhattan apartment and falls for his next-door neighbor.
Entergalactic
7.7 2022
Jennifer and Kevin are childhood best friends who have lived together, platonically, as adults for many years. When Jennifer decides to marry her cheating, manipulative boyfriend, Bryce Kevin has to stop the wedding to protect her from making, what he believes is, a terrible mistake. With a little help from his brother and neighbor Kevin discovers that he and Jennifer are already legally married due to common law, having lived together for seven years and, as such, Jennifer can not marry Bryce.
The Seven Year Hitch
6.0 2012
Addison travels with a picky billionaire as an assistant in her brother's place so he doesn't lose his job. She clashes with the billionaire until both start to see more in each other than they thought.
Beauty and the Billionaire
7.0 2022
Cecilia is a waitress in New Jersey, living a dreary life during the Great Depression. Her only escape from her mundane reality is the movie theatre. After losing her job, Cecilia goes to see 'The Purple Rose of Cairo' in hopes of raising her spirits, where she watches dashing archaeologist Tom Baxter time and again.
The Purple Rose of Cairo
7.4 1985