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Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

Director: Craig Gillespie

Time Out rating

Average user rating

3 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Small-town America, and shy office worker Lars (Ryan Gosling) spends his evenings alone, a gentle but seemingly friendless soul. A chance glimpse of a crass colleague’s web-surfing prompts a life change, however, when Lars subsequently takes delivery of shiny plastic companion ‘Bianca’, a raven-haired beauty lifelike in every detail.

Unsure how to react when Lars tells them she’s of Brazilian and Danish stock, a paraplegic and very religious, his brother and sister-in-law (Paul Schneider, Emily Mortimer) put up ‘Bianca’ in their spare room and seek the advice of a therapist (Patricia Clarkson), who reckons they should go with the flow and let Lars work through his… issues.

So, a story about a man and his sex-doll played not for snide laughter but as a touching fable on the restorative powers of human affection. That’s certainly an unexpected combination, and writer Nancy Oliver (‘Six Feet Under’) was Oscar-nominated for her screenplay, recognition for the way this tall tale holds its nerve and stands up for thinking the best of people.

Arguably, it works better as an idea than it does on screen, where Gosling’s man-child performance flirts with tweeness and the willingness of the whole community to go along with the ruse tests basic credibility. Still, if it’s more satisfying as a conceit than a story, that’s not to deny Schneider and Mortimer’s splendidly sympathetic work as caring, quizzically willing accomplices, and the grace with which the film avoids the fnarr-fnarr overtones that might break its delicate spell. Not entirely successful then but admirably original.

Author: Trevor Johnston 2008-03-18 11:50:25

Time Out London Issue 1961 March 20-26 2008

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User reviews of this film

reckoner said...

Posted on Nov 03 2008 10:44 It was with the entrance of the therapist that I began to fall in love with this film. What, at first, seemed entirely unrealistic - would anyone anywhere in the world really believe that going along with his outrageous delusion was a good idea? - became a touching message of hope that maybe, as the human race, we really are capable of dealing with people's problems with open minds and loving hearts. Lars' creation of Bianca seemed, initially, preposterous but turned out to be a brilliant strategy to recover from his inability to be close with people. This film showcases the very best qualities that humanity has to offer, and made me want to move to Ontario and never leave.

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Incheon Park said...

Posted on Apr 08 2008 14:53 in the beginning I found it bit wired.. even bit disgusting, so I couldn't understand the main character at all. However, when he was crying over his dead plastic-made girlfriend I cried with him. I reckon that's the power of sincere acting. must be seen.

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Oli said...

Posted on Mar 27 2008 08:32 Wonderful, surprisingly touching film.

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