Lars And The Real Girl

By Nathan Young

A movie about a man's relationship with an anatomically correct "love" doll would not normally interest me. I decided to give 'Lars and the Real Girl' a chance after reading several glowing reviews written by critics I respect, such as Roger Ebert. I am glad I did, as I am giving it a 'thumbs up'.

This film is a funny, feel good story about Lars (Ryan Gosling), a socially awkward and painfully shy man living in his brother's garage. His sister-in-law Karin (Emily Mortimer) tries to bring him out of his shell, but his brother Gus (Paul Schneider) thinks he is a lost cause.

One day a co-worker shows Lars a website that sells lifesize sex dolls. He orders one, but not for the intended purpose. Lars introduces Bianca to Gus and Karin as his girlfriend. After the initial shock wears off, Gus and Karin take Lars to see a psychologist named Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson). Her advice to them is to let the delusion continue and to treat Lars and Bianca as if they are a real couple. She reasons that Lars will eventually come to realize he doesn’t need her.

The town’s reaction to Bianca is priceless. A scene in which a child is sitting on Bianca’s lap at the doctor’s office is comedic gold. Mrs. Gruler (Nancy Beatty), a member of the church that Lars attends, makes sure the congregation bends over backwards for the new couple. His co-workers invite Lars and Bianca to a party. Margo (Kelli Garner), a co-worker with an unrequited crush on Lars, even treats Bianca respectfully.

My father-in-law Ray Spencer, who attended the screening with me, observed that this film is about emotional healing. I couldn’t agree more. Lars is closed off to the world because his mother died giving birth to him and his father has passed away recently. He cannot bear human contact, experiencing physical pain whenever another person touches him. Bianca allows him to be himself without fear of abandonment or physical contact.

Gosling is without a doubt the reason to watch this film. His performance is one of the best this year. Lars is oblivious to the world around him, yet is at peace with his loner status. His relationship with Bianca allows him to relate to other people, and Gosling handles the transformation with ease. He should be prepared for his name to be called a lot during awards season.

Craig Gillespie beautifully directs Nancy Oliver’s script. The supporting cast all play their parts perfectly. Mortimer is empathetic and lovable as Karin. A scene in which she lashes out at Lars when he feels sorry for himself is the kind of performance that could be rewarded at Oscar time. Margo’s delightful quirkiness and longing heart are wonderfully brought to life by Garner. Schneider and Clarkson are strong as well.

The thing I love most about this film is its tastefulness. A movie about this subject matter could easily go for the cheap joke. To Gillespie and Oliver’s credit, they never take the low road. It incorporates comedy and drama, and is one of the year’s most pleasant surprises. I would strongly recommend it to anyone looking for a good offbeat comedy.