LARS AND THE REAL GIRL is not your straightforward romantic comedy. And it will probably take in less money than Dan in Real Life because of it. Honestly, a movie about a weirdo who starts dating a sex mannequin (who does not come to real life, sorry Andrew McCarthy) and the town who backs him up? Not your typical love story.Here's the thing, I'm the dope who cried at this one. And if a movie makes me cry because I'm invested in the characters not because of movie manipulation, to me it's worth my time and money. Give Lars your$10.00 and support the theater that is showing it buy tossing them some candy or popcorn money. Yes, my friends, Lars and the Real Girl is worth $15.00
Ryan Gosling is sweetly tragic Lars, who is just a little quirky, even before ordering his plastic Bianca. You'll see Lars through the eyes of his brother and sister-in-law (Emily Mortimer).
Emily Mortimer has so many scenes where you just want someone to love you that much, and I hope she gets recognized by some awards group(probably not Oscar, but some Critics Circle). Gosling does a little Kevin Spacey-ish mugging for acting, but it works, it's part of the shyness of his character. Patricia Clarkson does well as the small town doctor who is trying to help Lars.
There are some things that will require a suspension of disbelief. A town that "goes along with" pretending Bianca really is a wheelchair bound raised-by-nuns orphan immigrant from Brazil really wouldn't happen in today's world. It's an idealized world, it's Lars's world,and just go with it.
Lars and the Real Girl is a movie about love and learning to love. And I loved it. Please go see it. You'll laugh, I cried, and it was definitely better than Cats.
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ReplyDeleteI know it was received extremely well at the TIFF. Ryan Gosling and Emily Mortimer on the same screen. Holy crow!
ReplyDeletei'm so glad you gave it a good review - it's the sweetest, funniest movie i've seen in a long time! gosling is great.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see this. I'm a big fan of Ryan Gosling and I'm glad so many people like it because, as you said, it probably won't make much money. But I still have my fingers crossed that it will be a sleeper hit like Big Fat Greek Wedding.
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