A lovable loser with a funny mustache falls in love with a sex doll, much to the chagrin of his straight-laced family. That’s the plot behind Lars and the Real Girl, and at first glance it seems like an awful sketch you’d find on YouTube or, even worse, MAD TV. But what if this terrible idea for a film were somehow written by former Six Feet Under scribe Nancy Oliver? What if it magically starred Academy Award-nominated actor Ryan Gosling as the lovable loser? And what if it managed to be one of the most charming films of the year?
Such is the case with Lars and the Real Girl, an absolute gem of a small, intimate character comedy.
Lars is an intensely quiet person who can’t even utter a complete sentence to a girl. His brother and sister-in-law (played by Emily Mortimer and Paul Schneider) try to convince Lars to step out of his comfort zone, but it’s absolutely no use. That is, until Lars approaches their door one evening informing them that he’s met someone.
Her name is Bianca, she’s perfectly proportioned, and she’s a sex doll. Naturally, Lars’ family thinks he’s nuts, but they love him so much they decide to play along with his delusion. Eventually, the entire town begins to play along as well, treating Bianca as if she were just another valued citizen.
What makes Lars and the Real Girl so compelling is that it treats the character of Lars with absolute dignity and respect. Lars is not a caricature, a deviant, or even a bumbling fool played for laughs. He’s a caring, good-natured soul struggling with finding intimacy in human interaction. His problem is treated seriously and not for shallow laughs. However, that’s not to say the film isn’t funny. It’s downright hysterical, but not due to cheap sight gags or gross sexual humor. The comedy comes from the true emotions the characters find in dealing with the reality of Lars and Bianca.
The performances in the film are solid across the board, starting with Gosling. After showing off his dramatic acting chops in such harrowing films as Half Nelson and The Believer, Gosling does a complete 180 with his portrayal of the soft-spoken Lars. Played by any other actor, the role could have easily been the butt of a 90-minute joke, but Gosling is pitch perfect, providing just enough emotional nuances to make the character both humorous and sympathetic. The audience realizes that Lars’s actions are completely insane, but Gosling plays the character with such a gentle touch it’s almost impossible not to sympathize with him. It’s an unexpected performance that should get him recognition come awards season.
The supporting performances are all handled with equal aplomb. Emily Mortimer is sweet and sincere as Lars’ sister-in-law, while Paul Schneider nearly steals the show in a bitingly hilarious portrayal of Lars’s straight-laced brother. The always reliable Patricia Clarkson does excellent work as the open-minded psychiatrist, and relative newcomer Kelli Garner shines as a spunky yet vulnerable co-worker with a small crush on Lars.
All of these talented actors stand out not only because of the emotional truth they bring to the characters, but also because they’ve been given a fantastic gift in Oliver’s screenplay. Filled with dialogue that’s both genuine and funny, and multi-faceted characters, each with specific goals, this story will appeal to people of all ages.
Director Craig Gillespie adds a craftsman’s touch to the film by allowing the actors to do their thing and not forcing any distracting directorial flourishes into a fairly simple story. Gillespie’s best touch in the film is finding the right tone for the story. By fluently mixing the comedy with the drama and maintaining the dignity of the characters, Gillespie has done what most people thought impossible — he’s made a film about a blow-up doll into one of the most moving films of the year.
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