Review of Lars and the Real Girl (2007) by Chads. — 26 Oct 2007
If you think long and hard about the final act, "Lars and the Real Girl" is not the feel-good movie it purports to be. How many husbands, how many boyfriends had this same fantasy when their eyes wander towards an upgrade? "Bianca" is paralyzed.
Thankfully, the film spares us the spectacle of animate/inanimate object sex. What if Lars(Ryan Gosling) wants a partner who can move? What if Lars is like the Edward Norton character in "Primal Fear"? The film seems largely unaware that a darker interpretation can be laid upon Lars' actions.
Still, this deadpan comedy can be uproariously funny. It should've stayed in this register rather than tug on the heartstrings, although some strings do get tugged. "Lars and the Real Girl" is "River's Edge" meets "Opal Dream".
Like the adaptation of "Pobby and Dingan"(the Ben Rice novel on which "Opal Dream" was based), the townsfolk participate in the delusional person's fantasy life. But in "Opal Dream", the cracked person is a young girl.
Sure, we buy it. But a 37-year-old man? I don't know. We believe in Karin's devotion(Emily Mortimer) towards her brother-in-law, however.
This review of Lars and the Real Girl (2007) was written by Chads. on 26 Oct 2007.
Lars and the Real Girl has generally received very positive reviews.
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