Lars and the Real Girl
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Movie Reviews of Lars and the Real Girl
Movie Review: A very double-edged sword of a film.
Summary: 5 Stars
Although the makers of this film succeeded in giving it a tongue-in-cheek comic frisson, it also backfired by exposing how little America cares about its lonely people. Those of us who've seriously considered buying a Realdoll should not watch this movie, because we will NOT find it the least bit funny.
When Lars receives his doll and names her Bianca, his brother Gus (himself not lonely, you notice) immediately decides Lars is crazy, while Gus' wife Karen feels sorry enough for Lars to humor him, and Lars' doctor convinces them to play along with the delusion. In time, Lars' coworkers Margo (who is very proprietary about her teddy bear) and Eric (likewise proprietary about his action figures) seem to be almost as delusional as Lars is with Bianca. Lars briefly plays along with Margo's delusion by acting out his disapproval of Eric's mistreatment of the teddy bear, and Margo evidently finds this attractive. Lars decides Bianca can have no place in this new scheme of things... suffice to say, if Lars had remained indifferent toward Margo after the teddy bear incident, the story would have gone horribly wrong.
The only reason why I've chosen to give this movie five stars is because it deals with the plight of America's lonely people in an unabashed, out-of-the-closet way which no film has done before: how would a community react to one man's acceptance of an ersatz woman? Other than that, this film suffers from lighting which is at times so poor that I had no idea what was going on, and the acting and dialog seemed like something out of a low-budget 1970s TV movie. No other movie I've seen was so badly in need of voice-over narration.
Worth it if you're the sort of mean-spirited person who gets a big kick out of tormenting lonely people, but otherwise, forget it.
Movie Review: One of 2007s best films. Why loners are so appealing.
Summary: 5 Stars
Lars Lindstrom (Ryan Gosling) has hints of a non violent version of Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) and a fictional, less vocal variation of Harvey Pekar in American Splendor, two of my favorite films of all time. Each of these films give some character study and glimpses into unique outsiders lives. I would imagine the appeal and compassion for these people comes from most of us being able to relate at one time or another to being lonely or feeling like we don't fit in.
The film is filled with laughs but I would say it's more a touching drama then comedy which comes as a total surprise given the material. Credit should also be given to Ryan Gosling for looking beyond the obvious and bringing a lot of emotion to this role with few words, he is the real deal.
The movie is about mental Illness and Gosling's character's delusion of a plastic doll being real but is much more than that. There are the obvious jokes but even though the doll is anatomically correct it never goes in the perverse direction. It isn't a love story between Gosling's character and the doll but a story about love, family, communication, and hope. With the emergence of this doll family and community are able to open up to one another. Perhaps the absurdity of the situation allows everyone to drop their guards.
In a time where machines and the internet replace humans at stores and our main way of getting in touch with one another is through emails and instant messages, a touching movie about communication seems about right.
Movie Review: Loved Lars -- A Surprisingly Touching Film
Summary: 5 Stars
"Lars and the Real Girl" is one of the more original movies I've seen in quite some time. It is easy to see how this incredibly inqenious screenplay could have devolved into a farcical, over-the-top picture. A film about a mentally ill, early 30s Midwestern guy who buys a sex doll to keep him company easily could have been a train wreck. Fortunately, it is a gem of film showcasing the talents of Ryan Gosling along with a stellar supporting performances, most notably Patricia Clarkson as Lars doctor.
Lars (Gosling) sister-in-law's pregnancy resurfaces painful childhood memories and brings Lars' mental illness to the forefront. Lars is unable to connect physically and emotionally with another person. The only thing able to bring Lars out of his "shell" and connect is Bianca. The only catch: Bianca is a sex doll Lars created and bought on the internet. The initial shock and amusement of the tight knit community turns to acceptance as they begin to go along with the whole thing. Part of the reason is because everyone adores Lars and his sweet innocence and decency. If it all sounds crazy and absurd, it is, but the movie never succumbs to the temptation to either get too sentimental or slapstick. There are scenes that will cause you to burst into laughter, but instantly bring you back to tender consideration for Lars and his situation.
"Lars and Real Girl" works because it is about people caring and connecting with each other, taking the time to understand who they are and why they are that way, and a community rallying together to help someone they love, in spite of their problems. This is a tender, funny and sentimental (in a really good way) movie that will surprise you, make you think and most of all, warm your heart.
Movie Review: Touching, Life-Affirming Film
Summary: 5 Stars
Sweet-natured and painfully shy Lars finally finds a girlfriend on the internet. Her name is Bianca, a life-sized love doll who has arrived in a packing crate. Lars treats her as a real person, though. First he introduces Bianca to his brother Gus and sister-in-law Karin at dinner before taking her to the church of the community in a wheelchair. Naturally Gus and Karin don't know what to do, but a local doctor advises them (and the entire townspeople) to go along with Lars's "delusion." The result is a charming, bittersweet tale of human nature.
The unique film could not be a success without the convincing backstory of Lars himself. Nancy Oliver's screenplay gives us several hints as to the reasons for his shyness without interrupting the flow of the narrative. Lars lives in a garage and he doesn't want to touch people. We slowly come to understand him through Ryan Gosling's amazing performance as Lars, who makes his character endearing. No wonder the people of the community want him to be happy. By the end of the film's story, you will feel the same way too.
The entire cast is great especially Paul Schneider as Gus, Emily Mortimer as Karin and most notably Patricia Clarkson as the doctor who quietly listens to Lars's story. Patricia Clarkson's fantastic performance gives her character as a wise and understanding doctor credibility and warmth. Actually the snowbound town and its people who support Lars are depicted sympathetically without being condescending or sentimental. This is a rare achievement, considering the tricky nature of the central topic.
In a nutshell, "Lars and the Real Girl" is a touching, life-affirming film. Its approach may be far from conventional, but its theme itself is universal.
Movie Review: Offbeat, quirky and touching love story
Summary: 5 Stars
This is not a movie for everyone. People who think every utterance regarding mental illness should be dealt with in a serious vein will probably be offended, if not outraged, by this movie. Likewise, those who have little tolerance for fantasy probably won't like it either.
But if you like good movies, it's a charmer.
Lars has had a dysfunctional childhood (like who hasn't?) and it plays out leaving him isolated in his community. In search of love, Lars is introduced to the wonderful world of, uhm, sex aids. In this case, a lifelike replica of a woman, whom Lars endows with a background.
Instead of rejecting Lars as delusional, his family (brother Gus and his wife Karin), the family doctor, clergyman, workers and soon most of the town embrace their new resident, Bianca, as if she were real. This is the first of the love stories in this movie: a family and town that love Lars to the point of tolerating and humoring his delusion.
Lars has an interesting job: he never appears to do any work, but he does have a thing - not a relationship, but a "thing" - going with Margo, his co-worker. Margo clearly has her heart set on winning Lars. But Lars is painfully shy - and besides, he is involved with his sex aid, Bianca.
Bit by bit, Lars sinks further into his delusion, but at the same time, he becomes less introverted. At last Margo gets Lars to spend some time with him and . . .
The conclusion of the film over the last half hour or so is wonderfully warm and not unlike the Capra movies of the 1930s.
This is an adorable film. Yes, the underlying premise is weird, but it's pulled off well.
Jerry