Review of Lars and the Real Girl (2007) by Jeff H — 29 Mar 2012

Not going to lie, I literally cried for almost the entire movie. It's just so touching and inspiring, yet upsetting at the same time. Ryan Gosling proves yet again why he's pretty much become my favorite actor, with a subtle and startlingly honest performance.

I loved Lars as much as everyone else in his little town. It's moving beyond words to get to experience a world like this, where all the people go so far out of their own ways to help Lars. Despite his obvious mental instability, his entire community pulls together and, rather than ignoring him or ostracizing him (as most people certainly would in the real world), they embrace him for the ultimately sweet and caring man by playing along, if you will, with his delusion until he finds himself ready to let go of it.

It's a beautiful story that simply highlights the power of love and acceptance, which can rise above fear and pain, if we just let it.