Lars and the Real Girl: Film Review

Most of the films out right now are two-plus hours long and
full of enough psychological drama to keep you sleeping with the night light on.

Here’s something completely different. 106 minutes of weirdness, wrapped up with an amusing bow. 

For starters, it’s about a socially awkward young man who lives in the garage behind his older brother Gus’s (Paul Schneider), house in a generic mid-west sort of small town. Lars, played by Ryan Gosling, is a loner at work and a recipient of pity from Gus and his wife. One day at work, Lars observes his cube mate surfing porn and discovers the wonderful world of anatomically correct life-size dolls.

By the time the large shipping box appears at his door. He has convinced himself that the plastic vixen inside is his internet girlfriend, in town to spend some quality time with him. The film could easily have devolved into some bad SNL skit, but happily, it reveals itself to be a surprisingly entertaining study in people’s need for intimacy and the nature of acceptance.   

You have got to love a town full of people who join in on his delusion. After all, she’s new in town and doesn’t know anyone. Having grown up in the land of tuna casseroles and jello molds I found myself completely invested in the plot. Lars & Bianca have a chaste relationship, no frat house jokes here. There are a lot of laughs thanks to the absurd nature of fitting the visiting plastic girl into the local social scene. Bianca ultimately becomes a vehicle for Lars to work out his issues with his brother and with the town’s help, ultimately heal himself.

LARS AND THE REAL GIRL is indy-style entertainment.