Lars and the Real Girl

Ryan Gosling stars as Lars, who has serious people issues. When his colleague shows him 'real girls' on the internet, he orders one, and introduces his "real girl" to his shocked brother, Gus (Paul Schneider) and Gus' pregnant wife Karin (Emily Mortimer) as Bianca, Lars' disabled girlfriend. After seeking advice from the local doctor/psychologist (Patricia Clarkson), they go along with Lars' delusion, and he meets with the doctor weekly when Bianca is 'resting' from treatment. Bianca stays in his brothers house, as Bianca and Lars are both religious, Lars claims. So there's nothing smutty about it.

The community is at first shocked by this - he speaks to her like she is real, and puts her into a wheelchair. He takes her to church, and even to a work colleague's party. All the while, work colleague Margo (Kelli Garner) watches from a distance, slowly working her way into Lars' life.

The performances in this are fantastic. Ryan Gosling in particular is amazing - he doesn't overplay it at all, but manages to convey a very mixed up man brilliantly, especially in the scenes where he's talking things through with the doctor. Kelli Garner is ace as the ditzy blonde who falls for Lars, despite his delusions. Emily Mortimer is fantastic as a woman who cares a lot for everyone - and when she finally loses her temper, her exasperation is spot on. Paul Schneider is great as the "mans' man" who has to come to terms with his 'freak' of a brother, as we delve into the past and he begins to blame himself, and Patricia Clarkson plays the sad, lonely doctor with so much patience really well.

This film could have failed if it played for cheap laughs, but instead, it's a heart warming tale of a community pulling together to help someone, and a study of how mental illness can be dealt with and the stresses it has on loved ones. It's still quite funny, and in particular the scenes with Lars and Kellie Garner will make you smile. For such a difficult subject, there are very few moments which will make you cringe. In fact, I can't find one bad word to say about it.

Lars and The Real Girl is out now.

Movie site inc. trailer

[pANDAS Radio]

Yeah, it is a brilliant film. The could easily have cheapened it but i like the way everyone becomes attached to Bianca in their own way.

[Bunnylingus]

Yeah, I'd heard it was a bit boring but we went anyway, I'm really glad I did.

When he went to the party with her, I could see a few folk exchanging glances, but it was again, really well done.

Garner is adorable.

[Devastator]

Pure want to see this, hopefully your review will help me convince Peatbog it's not rubbish!

[Bunnylingus]

Honestly, dingy other reviews of it, they clealry have no heart!

It was quite busy when we went for such a wee film, seems word of mouth has spread.

[The_Beer_Baron]

Its a certainly a fantastic film and goes to great lengths in order to explore mental illness, which, at least at the community level is very much riddled with stigma, as well as the importance of support groups (in thier many forms) with reference to treatment.

Go see it.

[¡Punk!]

I fancied seeing this when I saw the advert. Now Mark Kermode AND Rachel have gave it the thumbs up.

[Bunnylingus]

Rachael

But aye, go see.

I'm not sure it'll last more than another week, sadly.

[System_Star]

Fingers crossed, I will be seeing this tonight.

[Skybaby]

I saw it the other night and really enjoyed it. Wish it hadnt been made out to be a comedy as I was expecting full on laughs. There was a lot of humour in it though.

[Bunnylingus]

Was it the trailers that did that?

I hadnt seen it advertised as a comedy, but the idiots behind us seemed to think it was. (Only idiots because of the way they behaved.)

[Skybaby]

I hadn't seen any trailers for it and was just going by reviews that I'd read, mainly in the free rags they throw at you in London.

[Bunnylingus]

Aaah. The reviews I read said it was overly sentimental. People are so cynical.

[System_Star]

I saw this the other night and I love love loved it. I was getting all weepy, but I legit cry at anything so I wouldn't take that for much.

I heart Ryan Gosling