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Lars and the Real Girl
Directed by: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Ryan Gosling
Genre:
Drama/Comedy/
Romance
Run Time: 106 min.
Release Date:
October 2007
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Similar to the theme that
runs through PAY
IT FORWARD, this film also has a morally upstanding
message for those who help others and then receive something they never
thought possible: internal healing.
Although very unrealistic in today’s terms, LARS AND THE REAL GIRL is a
great fictional take on what it would be like when an entire town gets
behind one man’s delusion and helps him (and themselves) get through
past, present and future problems.
The man is Lars Lindstrom (Ryan Gosling,
HALF NELSON) whose isolationism
has reached psychologically damaging proportions. Living in the garage
while his brother and expectant sister-in-law occupy the cozy house,
Lars’ ruined psyche is at first a mystery to all. Karin (Emily Mortimer,
DEAR FRANKIE) is Lars’ very pregnant sister-in-law who tries everything
to get Lars to come over for dinner or interact in some way with the
family and neighbors; she even goes so far as to tackle him in their
driveway! Gus (Paul Schneider,
THE FAMILY STONE) shoves Lars’ problems
under the family rug, saying “There’s no problem with Lars.” Lars’
computer coworkers see him simply as an introvert, except for one cute
new employee named Margo (Kelli Garner) who is attracted to him but
can’t seem to break through the walls he’s built around him.
All of Lars’ problems come to a head when Lars orders a silicon sex doll
through the internet and introduces her to everyone as his new
girlfriend. And it isn’t a joke; it’s a delusion that helps Lars build a
surprising ladder to vault over the psychological walls he’s built. The
first to meet “Bianca” (the doll’s given name by Lars) is Lars’ brother
Gus and sister-in-law Karin. Dumbfounded, they take Lars and Bianca to
their local doctor Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson,
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK)
who discovers Lars’ delusion but is unsure of the cause.
The damage issued upon Lars slowly comes seeping out. Damaged by his now
dead father. Abandonment/death of his mother. No help coming from any
corner of his life or neighbors. It all took its toll on Lars and now it
has manifested itself via a sex toy. But can the damage be reversed?
Watching this story one has to remember that it is fiction. Most
mentally ill people are ostracized by their communities and getting the
right help is often tough. But in Lars And The Real Girl, the entire
township rallies around Lars to help him (and Bianca) become a part of
the community again. The strange thing that happens is that in doing so,
the townspeople heal whatever rifts exist within themselves, too.
Although funny at times, the story is more a poignant look at what could
happen if people reached out and assisted those with psychological
problems. The healing could be immense. And romance, a true romance,
could blossom from the cure.
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Image from Lars and the
Real Girl
DVD cost: $22.99
Purchase:
BestPrices.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite?
Yes.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
The real doll had 9
different faces which were used to show a sort of evolution of the
character. The doll starts with a face with heavy make-up, but then
later uses a more natural looking face without make-up. Finally, the
doll's face becomes slightly green to reflect her failing health.
Movie Quote: "Bianca's
in town for a reason. This isn't necessarily a bad thing."
Other Actors/Actresses
from Lars and the Real Girl
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