Lars & the Real Girl (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
Lars & the Real Girl' is a dramedy directed by Craig Gillespie. Lars (Ryan Gosling), a shy man with a delusion disorder, begins an unconventional relationship with a life-sized doll that he finds on the internet. Because he's socially awkward, he unconsciously uses her as a way to express his true emotions that are kept pent-up inside. This is the story of his mental illness, his emotional healing, & the loving community who temporarily enables his delusion (Bianca, the doll). FABLE: a fictitious narrative intended to enforce a useful truth. This film is a fable. So yes, perhaps the town's depiction is a tad idyllic. But you either accept that they faithfully help him from the goodness of their hearts, OR, you're unable to suspend disbelief. I take the 'former' route. Gosling, & the movie, are fantastic.
Lars lives in the apartment-garage of his brother & sister-in-law's house; they are Gus & Karin (Paul Schneider, Emily Mortimer). He drives a car, goes to work, & attends church every Sunday. But Lars in painfully introverted, avoids conversation with everyone, & even finds it difficult to touch people ('it feels like a burn'). 6 weeks after overhearing a coworker speak of a website that sells anatomically correct plastic women, 'Bianca' shows up (via UPS). Obviously (and hysterically), his family/friends have no idea how to respond to Lars' girlfriend. A town meeting is held & this small, tight-knit group of church-going townsfolk care deeply enough to go along with Lars' delusion, until he (hopefully) snaps out of it. Sympathy for their troubled friend (rather than ridicule) could be the cure.
The family then seeks advice from the local doctor (Patricia Clarkson). They all convince Lars that Bianca is sick and that she needs weekly check-ups (check-ups on HIM, obviously). And so, the town, including Margo (Kelli Garner), a girl hoping for Lars' affections, begins to treat Bianca with a certain respect; seems she has quite the hold over everybody. Trust me, odd as it sounds, I even begin to like Bianca! The film takes a slightly dark turn (as it explores the psychological reasons why Lars has his complex). But there still is hope that the sweet-natured Lars can find a way to connect (in a meaningful way) with a real person. Some late scenes (including the last one) are handled so well, so poignantly (yet without gooey sentimentality), that I was completely taken off guard.
Now, the funny parts of the movie are VERY funny. i.e., various reactions to his Lars' nutzoid predicament; various peoples' quips about Bianca; Lars' out-loud conversations with her, etc. Some of the situations will bring a genuine smile to your face. But there are also many moments that 'could' bring genuine tears ... the screenplay is so cleverly written. What I love about this movie is: while plausibility is stretched here & there, there isn't one moment where I wasn't feeling TRUE emotion from each character; I was acutely aware of this as the film progressed. Mortimer is great the worrisome sis-in-law. Before Assass. of Jesse James, I had never heard of Paul Schneider. He has now impressed me twice in the small space of 3 weeks. Ryan Gosling made me laugh, & he made me cry. His comedic & dramatic timing/nuance is brilliant here. The emotional transitions that his character goes through from the 1st frame 'til the last is executed seamlessly.
How do you love a person 'effectively' when they're fighting a mental disorder? That question is tackled in this tender film. Above all else, 'Lars & the Real Girl' does nothing but to show how fragile we all are, but also how a little bit of kindness & acceptance can heal the heart and mind. The premise of the movie is akin to something like a Knocked Up or a Superbad (all are funny, but 'Lars' is more refined). Better yet, this film is the antidote to all the self-righteous epic war movies that are clogging up our theaters this Fall. Some aspects of the film are hard to buy. The conclusion may be predictable, but the journey to that conclusion is what is so incredibly endearing and intelligently rendered on screen.
Lars lives in the apartment-garage of his brother & sister-in-law's house; they are Gus & Karin (Paul Schneider, Emily Mortimer). He drives a car, goes to work, & attends church every Sunday. But Lars in painfully introverted, avoids conversation with everyone, & even finds it difficult to touch people ('it feels like a burn'). 6 weeks after overhearing a coworker speak of a website that sells anatomically correct plastic women, 'Bianca' shows up (via UPS). Obviously (and hysterically), his family/friends have no idea how to respond to Lars' girlfriend. A town meeting is held & this small, tight-knit group of church-going townsfolk care deeply enough to go along with Lars' delusion, until he (hopefully) snaps out of it. Sympathy for their troubled friend (rather than ridicule) could be the cure.
The family then seeks advice from the local doctor (Patricia Clarkson). They all convince Lars that Bianca is sick and that she needs weekly check-ups (check-ups on HIM, obviously). And so, the town, including Margo (Kelli Garner), a girl hoping for Lars' affections, begins to treat Bianca with a certain respect; seems she has quite the hold over everybody. Trust me, odd as it sounds, I even begin to like Bianca! The film takes a slightly dark turn (as it explores the psychological reasons why Lars has his complex). But there still is hope that the sweet-natured Lars can find a way to connect (in a meaningful way) with a real person. Some late scenes (including the last one) are handled so well, so poignantly (yet without gooey sentimentality), that I was completely taken off guard.
Now, the funny parts of the movie are VERY funny. i.e., various reactions to his Lars' nutzoid predicament; various peoples' quips about Bianca; Lars' out-loud conversations with her, etc. Some of the situations will bring a genuine smile to your face. But there are also many moments that 'could' bring genuine tears ... the screenplay is so cleverly written. What I love about this movie is: while plausibility is stretched here & there, there isn't one moment where I wasn't feeling TRUE emotion from each character; I was acutely aware of this as the film progressed. Mortimer is great the worrisome sis-in-law. Before Assass. of Jesse James, I had never heard of Paul Schneider. He has now impressed me twice in the small space of 3 weeks. Ryan Gosling made me laugh, & he made me cry. His comedic & dramatic timing/nuance is brilliant here. The emotional transitions that his character goes through from the 1st frame 'til the last is executed seamlessly.
How do you love a person 'effectively' when they're fighting a mental disorder? That question is tackled in this tender film. Above all else, 'Lars & the Real Girl' does nothing but to show how fragile we all are, but also how a little bit of kindness & acceptance can heal the heart and mind. The premise of the movie is akin to something like a Knocked Up or a Superbad (all are funny, but 'Lars' is more refined). Better yet, this film is the antidote to all the self-righteous epic war movies that are clogging up our theaters this Fall. Some aspects of the film are hard to buy. The conclusion may be predictable, but the journey to that conclusion is what is so incredibly endearing and intelligently rendered on screen.