“Lars and the Real Girl”
What an odd film “Lars and the Real Girl” is. In a way, its oddness may shoot itself in the foot with audiences, not allowing it the chance to be seen for all of its wonderful qualities. But, I suppose that’s the audience's fault, not the filmmakers. Lars (Ryan Gosling) is twenty seven years old. He is a social misfit to say the least. In fact, that is a bit of a compliment to Lars. He is afraid and unable to even come to dinner with his brother and pregnant sister-in-law.
You see, while his brother and his wife live in the family home in Midwest America, Lars lives in the garage. He drives a beat up car to work, attends church on Sundays, and avoids at all costs the new girl at work who seems to have a thing for him. And people sort of prod him about it. So, to quiet them, Lars orders a blow up doll girl off the internet and brings her to dinner. Her name, he tells them, is Bianca. She is a missionary from Brazil who needs a wheel chair, and can she sleep in the house, because were not married and all? Needless to say, Lars’ family is more than stunned. Needless to say, this is comical while also sad, but more on that later. His brother and wife take him to the town doctor, who, in a small town like this, is also the town psychiatrist. Under the pretense of Bianca having low blood pressure and needing treatment, the doctor is able to get Lars to come in weekly. She tells his family that they must go along with Lars’ delusion. They agree and, in fact, make sure that the whole town, his work, his church, everyone, goes along with it as well.
“Lars and the Real Girl” is a touching film not just about people with emotional issues but about the people around them. Perhaps it is a fairy tale, perhaps his family and the town around him would never act this way, but as one character astutely points out, all of us have issues. “Lars and the Real Girl” is also very funny, but sometimes unintentionally. At the advanced screening I attended, the audience simply could not stop laughing at the fact that Lars was dating a blow up doll-somewhat understandably as I write that sentence. But the film manages to get past that gag effectively if it is given the chance. Thru Lars’ weekly sessions and thru his brothers guilt, we find out what is wrong with Lars. Bianca is Lars’ way of working thru his issues. The town’s efforts on his behalf are truly heart felt, because in a film the world created needn’t be realistic, but only true to itself, and this film accomplishes that consistency.
And a word on Mr. Gosling. This role only further cements him as one of our finest young actors. The risk in taking on such a role, the recognition of its value, and the follow thru all earn him high marks. He is an exciting young man to watch on the screen.
Story: A - A social misfit in a small town orders a blow up doll off the internet and introduces her as his girlfriend.
Acting: B + Good all around with Gosling once again in top form.
Visuals: B - Nothing out of the ordinary, but patiently records the events.
Originality/Innovation: B + Certainly in the concept and the strength to treat it seriously.
Enjoyability Grade: B Funny, odd, and emotionally satisfying, perhaps a tad syrupy.
Overall Grade: B + Heart felt enough to pay off it’s absurd premise. Oddly touching.
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