Eatingpinkzebras and the Real Good Film (Lars and the Real Girl (DVD))

Member Name: eatingpinkzebras

Product:	Lars and the Real Girl (DVD)
Date:	16/04/09 (128 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent acting

Disadvantages: Unrealistic

I have wanted to see Lars and the Real Girl for a while because it has had very good reviews and it sounded like a cool, quirky and interesting film. It also received a wealth of award nominations.

It is a film about Lars, a man who is very socially awkward and spends most of his time alone in the garage next to his brother's house. His brother Gus and sister-in-law Karin do their best to interact with him, as does the sweet girl Margo at work, but Lars finds all social situations very scary. However one day he announces he has a girlfriend, Bianca. Gus and Karin are thrilled, until they find out that Bianca is a life-size anatomically correct doll that Lars has purchased from the internet.

Lars believes that Bianca is real, and has what the psychologist describes as a delusional disorder. The psychologist tells Karin and Gus that the best thing to do to help him is to go along with it, so they agree and soon the whole town is treating Bianca as if she is real. But the question remains as to how long this can carry on, and whether Lars will ever be able to adjust to real life or have a real relationship.

The acting in this film is really brilliant. Ryan Gosling is really likeable as Lars and I instantly warmed to him and sympathised with him. The way he treats Bianca is so sweet and you can tell what a lovely thoughtful boyfriend Lars would be to a real girl. The role of Lars must have been really difficult because it requires a lot of dramatic scenes and also a touch of comedy too, but Gosling pulls it off very well and is absorbing to watch.

Emily Mortimer is also excellent as Karin. She is the emotional heart of the film and probably the one that viewers will identify most with as she tries her best to support Lars whilst being pregnant herself. Paul Schneider as Gus is very good too and even though at times he is impatient with Lars and struggles to understand him, you can still empathise with him. Kelli Garner plays Margo and she is very cute and likeable in the role as well.

I think the film is easy to watch and absorbing even though not a great amount actually happens. It is psychologically very interesting and brings up a lot of issues. I do have a couple of complaints about it though. Everyone in the town seems just a bit too understanding about Lars' issues. I can imagine that in a real town people would shout things at him in the street and make sarcastic comments if they were asked to style the hair of his fake girlfriend or have her volunteer at the hospital. Everyone is so kind and that makes it a lovely feel-good film in some ways, but it also stops it being totally believable.

I did enjoy the film a lot though. It is funny at times but also very emotional and has a lot of important messages. I would recommend it but bear in mind it is not exactly action-packed.

You can buy Lars and the Real Girl for £8.97 from Amazon.co.uk at the moment. There are a couple of extras on the DVD including a making of documentary and the theatrical trailer. I wouldn't recommend watching the trailer first though as it gives away much of the plot.

Summary: Recommended