Written and created by Matthew Pejkovic

Contact: mattsm@mattsmoviereviews.net

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2007
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL
STARRING:RYAN GOSLING,EMILY MORTIMER,PAUL SCHNEIDER,KELLI GARNER,PATRICIA CLARKSON,NANCY BEATTY, MAXWELL McCABE-LOKOS, R.D.REID

WRITTEN BY NANCY OLIVER

PRODUCED BY SARAH AUBREY,JOHN CAMERON & BRUCE TOLL

DIRECTED BY CRAIG GILLESPIE

GENRE:COMEDY/DRAMA/ROMANCE

RATED:AUSTRALIA:M/UK:12A/USA:PG-13

RUNNING TIME:106 MIN

Lars and the Real Girl is quite the oddball tale. The synopsis is as follows: Lars (Ryan Gosling) is a courteous yet terminally withdrawn young man who - despite the best intensions of his sister in law Karin (Emily Mortimer) and obvious affections of co-worker Margo (Kelli Graner) - just wants to be left alone. In an attempt to subside his crippling loneliness, Lars purchases a blow up doll which he parades around town as his girlfriend to the shock of his family and friends, who are urged by town psychiatrist Dr. Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson) to go along with his delusion.
With such brilliantly risqué, bizarre material - courtesy of Six Feet Under scribe Nancy Oliver - Lars and the Real Girl could have became an exploitive picture about schizophrenia. One false step is all the difference between a brilliantly off the wall film about an extremely introverted man slowly coming out of his shell, and a sex comedy farce about a man and his blow up doll. Yet under the watchful eye of long time commercial director Craig Gillespie, the films main subject of mental illness is given the proper respect while also providing bright nuggets of comedic gold.
A big reason for the films success is due to Ryan Gosling's amusing and sympathetic performance, whose portrayal of a fragile young soul drowning in repressed emotions is simply heartbreaking. From his moustache and knitted sweater combo look to his awkward mannerisms and twitches, Gosling's ability to inhabit his character with meticulous precision and unflinching humility works wonders for his character. Exceptional support is provided by Paul Schneider who plays Lars' remorseful older brother and by Emily Mortimer who is especially good as the kind hearted, strong willed sister in-law.
The films many cringingly awkward scenes (such as when Lars introduces Bianca to his shell shocked family) are counter balanced by many touchingly sweet moments, (how these people open their hearts to Lars' dilemma is tragically beautiful). And as they feed into his delusion and embrace Lars' new friend, so to does the viewer. This is mainly because - much like Wilson the volleyball from Cast Away - Bianca the blow up doll feels like a real character (perhaps there should be an Academy Award for Best Inanimate Object?) Granted, a suspension of belief is needed for such a film to truly take hold (especially in the last 15 min). But if inhibitions are let go, then an enjoyable and moving cinematic experience will be had.

****
 
 

 

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