Review of Lars and the Real Girl (2007) by Sabra E — 20 Mar 2011

My alternate titles for Lars and the Real Girl: Loonyville, My Disorder Smorgasbord, Pinocciola & the Neverending Rape Dream, Psycho Dumbutt II.

Pros: I liked the original concept of a delusional manboy who always had a thing for Barbie dolls, getting by in a small town filled with people who care about each other very much. And Patricia Clarkson.

Cons: Ryan Gosling's exaggerated facial ticks. I mean on top of the allusion that he's suffering undiagnosed mental problems existing from birth, including social awkwardness and an introverted, delusional standoffishness, he also has a mild case of Tourette's? Give me a break, would you? Eccentric is eccentric, but what's the point of pulling a DiCaprio (Gilbert Grape, Shutter Island, etc)?

And Emily Mortimer, you're going to get typecast a cute psycho if you keep playing characters who have any angry tendencies about them whatsoever. Play it safe and just so either "sullen throughout" or "happy-go-lucky" would you? Or just get naked.