Lars and the Real Girl

This movie is far too underrated for what it is.  Ignore the hipster in me when I say, "I saw this movie before it was popular," because after this review it will be (probably not, but a girl can hope).  I saw this movie back when it was released in 2007, back when I was actually figuring out what independent films were.  It's movies in this genre that you can thank for these posts and this entire blog.  Without movies like Lars, I would never have bothered delving into the unknown cinematic excellence you have probably come to know/expect (again, let a girl dream).  This is not to say the movie itself is anything revolutionary or spectacular, just something I'd never really seen before (I was only 13, give me a break).  I have since rewatched the movie so fear not, maturer me is the one writing this blog, and I still highly urge you to watch it, if only to chuckle at the idea that Ryan Gosling would date a doll.

The last line gives a pretty good overview of what the movie entails.  Lars (Ryan Gosling) lives next to his brother, Gus (Paul Schneider), and his pregnant wife, Karin (Emily Mortimer).  Lars is kind,church-going, naive man who gets along with everyone in the small town, but he is a bit strange.  Lars' cubicle mate shows him a website where you can order a realistic sex doll, which Lars does.  Not for sex, but for a girlfriend. Imagine a world where guys dated their sex dolls, hilariously pathetic and sad and it would be for Lars as well if you didn't feel so sorry for him.  At first everyone is creeped out and confused, especially Gus, but soon the entire town gets together to welcome Bianca (the sex doll) and help Lars.  It's actually touching.

As is the case with every independent movie, this was very low budgeted and nothing too spectacular happens, but the situation is so unique and interesting that it held my attention the entire time.  I always like to commemorated acting, but here a special round of applause is called for, if only because Ryan Gosling always plays the "cool" guy now (fuck Drive).

The characters, as well as, acting was done extremely well.  I felt for everyone in the movie  and respected how they each developed.  Especially the character of Lars.  We see how he is in the beginning and where he inevitable ends up, where we wanted him to be the entire time.  The use of Bianca as a catalyst for changing Lars was a tactic I'd never seen before and have yet to see in any other movie.  Bianca herself, although an inanimate sex doll, has her own story.  You really begin to feel as if Bianca is real.  She is personified in such a way that you want to believe that at any moment she'll wake up and treat Lars right (Chucky: Sex Doll go ahead and make that a Child's Play sequel).

The dialogue in this movie is also incredible, simplistic, and, at times, nonexistent.  One characteristic of Lars is a quiet, personal guy, who is often cut off from society in the garage he lives in.  the introduction of Bianca begins to bring him out of his shell and even attend parties.  He begins communicating with his family, who take care of Bianca, more to whom, even though he lives next door, he rarely spoke.  Yet Lars remains awkward, we see it in the beginning when Lars acts strange to a coworker who is flirting with him, and later, even after Bianca's arrival, where he doesn't want to talk to her doctor (actually his psychiatrist).  Lars has long conversations in silence with the doctor, these takes are often long and uncomfortable but great because they force you to be in the scene.

This movie is incredibly simplistic but original and quirky.  It isn't too long and it is worth the watch.  I do recommend checking it out.

Tell me this photo doesn't give you nightmares