Review of All the Real Girls (2003) by J B — 09 Jun 2008

Paul: If anybody smiles at me ever again, I'm going to freak out.

There is a question to be asked here. Is it real? And related to it but not quite like it, is it believable? Without any reservations, this is a believable piece of filmmaking. I believed the slowly developing love between the main characters. I found myself caring for these two flawed people and hoping for their happiness. The flow of the movie allows us to appreciate little moments of joy between them and to feel their growing feelings for each other. We don't see the very beginning of the relationship but instead we're dropped somewhere in the early stages of it. The interest and affection are already there, but love isn't. Love arrives later. Too late for both characters. She has to hurt to realize her love; he has to get hurt to do the same. (Feel free to quote me!).

The film is beautifully constructed. The editing is slow and meditative. Dialog is sweet, funny and, thankfully, not quirky or forced. The director painstakingly forges realism and forces it upon us. And this is where I am hesitant to answer the question I offered in the beginning. Is it real? Not entirely. Not entirely to me. The realism is not effortless and it comes with a price. The movie certainly feels more real than most American productions but by claiming this elusive concept it challenges the viewer to find any falsity. I did. The overall tone and atmosphere are perfect, but not the execution of every scene. Zooey Deschanel and Paul Schneider deliver admirable performances. Neither of the actors has a remarkable range, but they are perfect for these roles. They are likable and have sweet chemistry between them. Patricia Clarkson is reliably solid, although she is partly responsible for one of the scenes that corrupt the overall reality of events - I am referring to the crying clown, of course. Several reservations aside, I highly recommend this movie to anyone.