Ryan Gosling is one of the best young actors out there today as shown by Fracture, a movie whose very purpose in being is to see him and Anthony Hopkins go at it. Another movie where he played off well against his co-star was The Notebook. Lars and the Real Girl is also about something of a loner (truly here) struggling through pain in a small town, if rather different, obviously. Some reviews thought it a bit of a lark of sorts, his chance to play some quirky independent role, but they don't do the movie justice. Roger Ebert's respect for the movie is more on the money.
As he notes, Lars is a loner struggling through serious emotional problems ... if functional ... who one day gets a real doll (these things aren't cheap btw). "She is, they learn, named Bianca. She is a paraplegic missionary, of Brazilian and Danish blood, and Lars takes her everywhere in a wheelchair. He has an explanation for everything, including why she doesn't talk or eat." She clearly is a psychological enabling device, someone this person who can not bear to touch others can care about without being hurt in the process.*
Patricia Clarkson, another great actress (she was in an earlier film, Pieces of April, from the guy behind Dan in Real Life; see also, The Station Agent), is the local doctor/therapist that counsels his brother and sister-in-law that they must go along with him, since Bianca is quite real to Lars. Though the brother is skeptical, the wife is more understanding, and brings on others in town to help out. Bianca in fact sorta becomes part of the community, even being elected to the school board! Meanwhile, this provides Lars both a chance to talk to the doctor and connect more to the community.
The ultimate charm of this film is that is played straight with an excellent ensemble cast. Ryan Gosling is very good, playing another character who we know is trying his damnest to hold it together, but has so much hurt underneath. But, the rest of the cast is very good as well, including Kelli Garner as a co-worker who has a crush on him, and has a few issues of her own. Quiet movies like these especially are ultimately based on supporting cast, including unknowns or people you just know you recognize, but don't quite know from where.
One review called the film a parable of sorts, and it is a bit of a fantasy look at a small community. Not living in one, I can't tell, but I think there are ones like this all the same. Ones where people are willing to accept someone they know is hurting, even if he has a major character quirk. Anyway, that is a lousy reason to dis a film, since film generally tends not to be that real to life. Many movies involve a bit of what should be.
And, as Ebert noted, referencing its PG-13 rating (after all, it had no violence, bad language or sex ... the doll is always clothed): "It could inspire conversations between children and their parents about masturbation, loneliness, acceptance of unusual people, empathy." These things affect all so many people, and it is well for a movie to seriously raise such issues. The movie overall can be said to be quite humanistic, ultimately concerned with empathy for a hurt animal among us.
This seems to be a theme this season, often expressed through violence and physical sickness, but also in some other ways as well.
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* At least one review focuses on the sexual nature of the doll. Are we to believe he never has sex with her, and if so, is that supposed to be a good thing? That is, isn't sex a natural part of the human animal.
But, this misses the whole point of him getting the doll -- it is a relationship thing. Furthermore, Lars sets it up that he won't be able to do it anyway. He has her stay in his brother and sister-in-law's house. Finally, not only does he have touch issues, sex would not only hurt the backstory of the doll, but given his mom died in childbirth with him, it very well might raise other problems. This is a case where a reviewer doesn't really respect and/or understand the film.