LARS AND THE REAL GIRL (2007)

I realise of course that I’m about four years late on this one.  Most times though it’s so much sweeter when you finally get around to seeing that film.

Lars and the Real Girl is wonderfully emotional.  I’d say the story is moving, though I’m usually hesitant to use that word to describe anything. 

Lars Lindstrom (Ryan Gosling) is a seemingly lonely young man living in the garage behind his childhood home, in which his brother Gus (Paul Schneider) and expecting sister-in-law Karin (Emily Mortimer) live.  Everyone in town, particularly Karin, is worried about Lars.  He needs a woman.  Well one day at work, where Lars is aggressively desired by co-worker Margo (Kelli Garner), his cubicle mate introduces him to a site that offers female dolls for mates.  Bianca soon arrives and she’s the Russian girlfriend Lars eagerly introduces around town.  Gus wants to have Lars committed.  Karin sets up Lars to be seen by a psychologist (Patricia Clarkson).  Through the sessions, masked as appointments for Bianca’s treatment of some illness, we learn why Lars Lindstrom is so damaged (which is where the aforementioned moving happens).  I’m going to SPOIL here and give away the biggest reason, because it’s a burden I can’t even imagine bearing:  Lars’ mother died in his birth.  But there’s good news!  By film’s end Lars is well and the rest of the town is at one with all.

May I skip over any comments on Gosling’s performance for fear of sounding redundant?  The rest of the cast do a stellar job of portraying their characters.  Kelli Garner’s is fun to watch and the interaction between her and Lars is darling, particularly towards the end.   All I can say about Bianca’s performance is that it was worthy of a credit on IMDB.  There isn’t one.  Can we occupy that?

Needless to say the story of Lars is original, which I appreciate more than anything.  It’s a story you’d want to be friends with in school.  It’s good at heart and has the best of intentions for everyone.  No complaints about dialogue, direction, music etc etc…

However, there’s only one thing about Lars and the Real Girl that I wanted, but of course did quite fine without:  his childhood.  A flashback would have been completely out of place and I can’t really offer any suggestions.  I won’t get into it because critique gets boring and irrelevant because we love the movie anyway.

If you haven’t already watch Lars and the Real Girl.  Carry the tissues.

PLEASE NOTE:

I know it could start to look like I’m mainly reviewing Ryan Gosling films but this is not the case!  This year he’s on every billboard.  And yes, Ides of March is coming.