Rapid Review: Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

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lars-and-the-real-girl-poster

“You know, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. What we call mental illness isn’t always just an illness. It can be a communication; it can be a way to work something out.”
– Dr Dagmar

SYNOPSIS: In this comedy, Lars Lindstrom is an awkwardly shy young man in a small northern town who finally brings home the girl of his dreams to his brother and sister-in-law’s home. The only problem is that she’s not real – she’s a sex doll Lars ordered off the Internet. But sex is not what Lars has in mind, but rather a deep, meaningful relationship. His sister-in-law is worried for him, his brother thinks he’s nuts, but eventually the entire town goes along with his delusion in support of this sweet natured boy that they’ve always loved. – via IMDB

lars and the real girl bianca lars and the real girl look

GRADE 7So I watched  this the other night at a movie night, a movie I have been meaning to get to for ages and just didn’t ever do it. Everyone tells me that Ryan Gosling is amazing in here, and now I can finally say that he was incredibly impressive here. Gosh, he made me cringe! To take an actor like Gosling and get him to look and be like he was in here? I loved it. So damn awkward! He portrayed Lars in a way that you pitied him and also found him so extremely stunted but sweet and silly, all at the same time. Anyway, I liked the story, and feel that they balanced the drama and comedy well. It was never too much of both, and you get drawn into how incredibly nice the people are in Lars’s town. I felt so sorry for him by the end, because he genuinely just turned in on himself. I could totally understand his brother Gus’s frustration with the situation, because it isn’t an easy one, and he himself was carrying quite a bit of guilt for how his brother had turned out. I think the movie did a really good job portraying some psychological issues, both for the affected person as well as how it impacts those around them. Gosling did a wonderful job in genuinely selling to us that he was dating Bianca and that she, the plastic doll, was respected and loved and a real part of his life. That doll provided me with endless laughs, because not only was she creepy, she went from looking like a hooker to a more normal and bland kind of person, and before you even knew what the hell was happening, she was having her hair done, getting baths and changed and she was some religious virgin living with Gus and Karin because Lars had to respect that. I mean wow. I can only think of the medical bills attached to the amount of time that Dr Dagmar had to see both Lars and Bianca. Anyway, the score suited the film, and it was shot quite well. Lars and the Real Girl is quite different and something else, without a doubt. I am glad to say that I have finally seen it, but I wouldn’t go as far as to call it my favourite Gosling film. It doesn’t strike me as the kind of film I will be rushing to see again anytime soon, even though it was an entertaining watch.

22 thoughts on “Rapid Review: Lars and the Real Girl (2007)”

    • Kidney!

      Thank you, thank you! LOL! His looks were hidden, but his talent certainly wasn’t! It is just amazing how he portrayed awkward so well! We know him as all calm, cool, collected, hot… all those things. Well worth a watch, I think you will like this!

      Bkushi

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  3. I love this movie. It’s so bizarre but I think it really explores the human condition and what it means to feel lonely and disconnected.

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      • I far preferred this to Drive! Sorry!!! (though not as big of a faux pas than Nightmare on Elm Street remake? 🙂 )

        I just thought it was so lovely and strange. A really important film about being kind to people and having empathy towards them, rather than taking the piss.

        I honestly think if anyone but Ryan Gosling had played Lars, it wouldn’t have been as good. Even my boyfriend was quite affected by the film and his performance – and that’s pretty much unheard of lol.

        Liked by 1 person

      • LOL! No, not as crushing, but Drive is one of my most favourite recent movies. I have watched the crap out of that thing and I will so many more times still. It is… perfect.

        I agree completely! I mean this started as funny, but the mockery was nothing. It moved on to loneliness, standing by people and being supportive. Such a lovely message.

        I agree with you there. He was so quirky and weird and managed to carry the role without ever really making Lars creepy (and goodness knows it could have gone that way QUICKLY). Wow, that is impressive! 😀

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    • I know it is your favourite, one of the reasons it eventually got bumped up on my list, had to see what that was all about. But Gosling was definitely the star here. I agree with that, it balanced it well.

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  9. Funny you should bring this up–I was just talking about this with someone the other day! I haven’t seen it yet. I still don’t know if I’m totally sold. Gosling’s pornstache is not making a great case. Bahaha. Maybe one day. After Life of Beth and The Voices, of course. 😉 Good job, Miss Zoe!!

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