I'll admit Lars and the Real Girl isn't a film i would necessarily watch but i was too quick too judge a movie i knew nothing about.Usually, a movie about a man who thinks his soulmate is a life size sex doll is a turn off but this movie is actually above and beyond that.Lars is one of those guys you know who means,who's kind, and everybody's friend but behind the niceness and the kind gestures lives a man drowning in his loneliness.From the very beggining of the movie we know that he has a problem connecting with people, slowly and surely his life is starting to cave in so out pops Biance the triple x, missionary, slash danish and brazilian descent who Lars met in the internet.His brother and his brother's wife were mortified when Lars introduced them to plastic Bianca as anybody would in that situation.They soon find out that Lars is suffering from a delusion which makes him believe that Bianca is as real as the person next to you.They come up with a treatment plan which consist of everybody in the community to play along until Lars snaps out of it.
The thing about Lars is that you can't help but either feel for him or feel like him.Here's a guy who chooses to live in the garage, sits alone in the dark, and stays away from people who clearly wants his company.Maybe he stays away because he doesn't know how to live in a world where people are there for him so he chooses to stay in his own world where he can look after himself.After all, he was born without mother and father who never bothered so Lars has every right to reject human compassion because he doesn't really recognize it.But that kind of changes when Bianca comes in to the picture.Biance is like his plea for sanity he takes her around the town, confides in her, and introduces her to his friends and colleagues.
One of the things i found distracting yet highly fascinating was how the people came about to reacting to Bianca.Instead of treating him like the village idiot they all came together and supported Lars going as far giving Bianca a position in the school board.It is so unrealistic and even slightly demeaning but i though maybe accepting Bianca as one of their own is a testament to the kind of person Lars is.
The heartbreaking moment of the movie came when Lars started getting better. He stareted letting people in and started to let Bianca out.It's like that toy you played with when you were a kid you don't play it anymore because you don't need it anymore.The toy served its purpose.There was a moment in the movie in which Lars asked his brother what it is to become a man.I think that moment says it all.But the beauty and sadness in Bianca depature is the way she departed.It wasn't just the next morning Lars was through with the doll and hid her in the basement.Nope, instead what we got was a ruthful process in the form of Bianca dying.
Let me take this moment to compliment Ryan Gosling for his tremendous work in this film.It was because of him that i gave this movie a second glance.Ryan was so good that he actually made me feel sorry for a doll.That is some mad skills right there.His acting gave life to Bianca and that scene where Bianca died wouldn't be powerful if Ryan's presence weren't there.
I think by now you know that this movie has made a believer out of me and it might do the same thing for you.This review might a year too late but i don't care what year your in as long as you watch the film.Despite it's faulty premise beneath lies a real story.I give it a solid A.
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