Movie Review -- Lars and the Real Girl
In a time when so many boneheaded gag comedies flood the theaters, it's not surprising to see a movie like Lars and the Real Girl mistakenly lumped into such a genre. After all, where else can a movie go when it features a man who buys a sex doll and calls it his new girlfriend? To be perfectly honest I had the same thought before seeing the movie, as will many other people until they take the chance to see what the movie really has to offer.
Don't, however, let the movie premise fool you. If you are into the gag comedies, then after 30 or so minutes this movie no longer serves a purpose. The cheap gags are kept to a minimum, and mostly limited to the beginning of the movie to loosely set the scenario. Ryan Gosling gives a stellar performance as the delusion Lars Lindstrom, a borderline hermit living in his brother and sister-in-law's garage. From what we can tell, he's just like anyone else in his small neighborhood, who has a full-time job and goes to church regularly, he's just a very shy. Then one slow day at work, a co-worker shows him a website selling anatomically correct dolls, one in particular being "Bianca," whom becomes Lars's new mate.
As disturbing as the set up is, it does provide some laughter. It's hard not to laugh at such a bizarre situation, especially the initial responses of Gus (Lars's brother) and Karin (Lars's sister-in-law). The film milks the gags for a respectable amount of time before shifting into a more realistic gear. Whereas in so many other directors' hands, this story would end up being a tired 5 minute joke extended into a full-length movie, yet director Craig Gillespie makes the movie focus on the much more serious need for Lars to regain a grasp on reality and form stable relationships. This aspect may be what makes the movie so respectable and enjoyable.
While Gosling's performance is highly noteworthy, the supporting cast, namely Paul Schneider and Emily Mortimer, have equally excellent performances. Gus's constant reluctance to pursue creating the real life "Bianca" in contrast with Karin's undying support creates for a fair share of great comedy as well as some unexpectedly moving sentimental moments. The neighborhood's efforts to integrate "Bianca" with everyone really saves the movie from being foul-mouthed and crude, and makes it more witty yet bittersweet.
After seeing the movie and having ample time to reflect on it, I'm still not sure what genre to which it belongs. It's equally dramatic and comical, and even squeezes in a couple love stories. Calling it a romantic comedy, however, is rather insulting, as it offers much more than the bulk of those types of movies. Not many directors can evoke so much emotion by having people interact with a plastic doll, which makes Lars and the Real Girl feel so original, and one of the best from 2007.
A-