Review of Lars and the Real Girl (2007) by Kyle V — 13 Mar 2017

"Lars and the Real Girl's" premise initially impresses a tasteless joke but it ends up being an affecting, humorous, and smart film about the healing powers of community.

Lars is a loveable introvert who invites Bianca, a friend he meets online and introduces her to his brother and his wife. They are stunned to find out that Bianca is a life-sized doll from an adult website. The couple consult the family doctor Dagmar, and she explains that this is a delusion that Lars has created and that they all have to play along.

The central character Lars, played by Ryan Gosling, is demented yet sweet and Gosling's dramatization of the character is affecting and comical. Props as well to his supporting actors Emily Mortimer and Paul Schneider. 'Lars and the Real Girl' grounds itself on the emotional journey of everyone in his community.

'Lars and the Real Girl' is unconventional and unpredictable. It may not be your usual feel-good comedy but it uses a likely yet niche material to craft a stirring comedy/drama. The film deftly balances between trivia and heartfelt. So you may think that the plot is all pap but the director and writer of the film capitalizes on its supposed one-sided joke, surrounding it with a great cast and a tender script that teases romantic delusions whilst drawing attention to communal affection.