Lars and the Real Girl: 4 stars

There are films that, for me, serve as a litmus test for one’s personality. You can tell a lot about someone by the films they love. It doesn’t work on everybody. If someone just isn’t that into movies then it won’t work. Some films work better than others, there are different litmus tests for different people, some preferences just don’t matter, but others are windows into ones true self. I know that sounds corny, but it’s true and Lars and the Real Girl is one of those films for me. If you dislike this movie, then we may have a problem (I’m looking in your direction Michael Phillips).

Lars and the Real Girl is the story of a man named Lars, played by the more and more impressive Ryan Gosling, from a small town who leads a life of isolation in this family’s coach house. His older brother and his expectant wife, played wonderfully by Emily Mortimer, now inhabit the main house. As the story unfolds we gather more bits of information from the family’s past to help explain why Lars may act the way he does. The basic plot is that in order to deal with difficulties with social interaction, a painful past, and longing for love Lars orders a life size realistic doll to be his companion. He pretends she is real, names her, gives her a past and introduces her to his family as his girlfriend whom he met on the Internet. His family, as well as the town, on advice from their physician goes along with Lars’ delusion that this doll is real in order to help Lars deal with his true issues.

Some reviews I have read make the mistake of penning Lars, along with the movie as a whole, as quirky. I feel this couldn’t be further from the truth, and would probably offend a large group of people who have the same type of disorder portrayed in this film. I believe Lars along with the film is very true to life. I think a better word would be distinct. It would be irresponsible to assume emotionally damaged or delusional people don’t exist as represented in this film just because one hasn’t had the experience in their own life. Furthermore, the film is very restrained. No character is so over the top that it is unbelievable. Some may argue that the fact that the whole town bands together to help Lars is unbelievable. I’m a pretty cynical person, but had no problem believing that this could occur, especially in a small town.

I was even waiting for the inevitable bully scene, where an immature secondary character confronts the main character about being different, calls him names, beats him up and makes him cry. It is a cheap and cliché cinema tool to evoke compassion from the audience. That scene never came in Lars and that’s because it doesn’t need it. The filmmaking, writing and acting is superb, and it wasn’t hard for me to become attached. The film is also not afraid to allow you to laugh. Life is funny, even when it’s painful. If you can’t learn to laugh at yourself, then the difficult times are going to be even worse. I belly laughed and cried and was very impressed with this one. I can’t wait to watch it again.

If you watch this film and find it hard to believe anything that occurs, feel that it’s ridiculous that everyone is going along with Lars’ delusion and he just needs to be told the doll isn’t real, or feel that the characters are over the top, you can consider yourself the point of the film. If left in your hands Lars would probably be in a mental institution getting worse.