Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

Genre

Comedy | Drama

Director

Craig Gillespie

Country

USA | Canada

Cast

Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, R.D. Reid, Kelli Garner, Nancy Beatty, Doug Lennox, Joe Bostick, Liz Gordon, Nicky Guadagni, Patricia Clarkson, Karen Robinson, Maxwell McCabe-Lokos, Billy Parrott, Sally Cahill, Angela Vint, Liisa Repo-Martell, Boyd Banks, Darren Hynes, Víctor Gómez, Tommy Chang, Arnold Pinnock, Joshua Peace, Aurora Browne, Alec McClure, Tannis Burnett, Lauren Ash, Lindsay, Connell

Storyline

After years of what is almost solitude, Lars Lindstrom (Ryan Gosling) invites Bianca to his brother Gus (Paul Schneider) and his wife Karen (Emily Mortimer). The only problem is that she is not real, she is a sex doll Lars ordered off the Internet.

Opinion

There is no way to explain the plot of this film and not make it sound stupid, and meaningless, but don't let the storyline fool you, because the film is anything but silly.

Lars and the Real Girl is a sweet, sensible, touching, and original film, that goes to the heart, by evoking compassion and tenderness at the same time. Dealing with issues such as loneliness and alienation, the film has a powerful message about the ability of a community to help and heal a troubled soul, even if it means treating a doll as a human being. 

There are some hilarious moments - I found it impossible not to laugh during the dinner -, and some unbelievably emotional moments that brought me to tears.

The main character is spectacular and it is impossible not to love him. Lars is a shy, insecure, sweet, guy with a sensibility like few others, that pours out his fears and insecurities on Bianca, the doll. On the way of his healing, Lars is not only accompanied by the community, but by the audience as well. And that handshake with the sweet girl, on which the camera focuses, is not just a handshake, but the transition from child to adult.

I am not a fan of Ryan Gosling, but he is unarguably an outstanding actor, and as such he gives a spectacular performance as Lars, and he proves to get along both comedic and dramatic acting. The supporting cast provides a strong support, with a marvellous Patricia Clarkson as a psychiatrist, and a wonderful Emily Mortimer as Lars's sister-in-law.

Quotes

Reverend Bock: Lars asked us not to wear black today. He did so to remind us that this is no ordinary funeral. We are here to celebrate Bianca's extraordinary life. From her wheelchair, Bianca reached out and touched us all, in ways we could never have imagined. She was a teacher. She was a lesson in courage. And Bianca loved us all. Especially Lars. Especially him.

Lars Lindstrom: Those are nice, huh? And they're not real, so they'll last forever.