Movie Review: Lars and the Real Girl
May 13th, 2008 by admin
- Director: Craig Gillespie
- Genre: Comedy/Drama
- Year: 2007
More and more I am surprised by Juno’s nomination to best picture, when there were movies like this and “Into the Wild” that easily obscure it. Nothing against Juno, it is a fun, entertaining movie to watch with sadly over the top, exaggerated humor and unrealistic dialogue. Did I find it funny? Yes. Would I watch it again? Probably. Would I say it was one of 2007 Best Pictures? Definitely not. Lars and the Real Girl, on the other hand, is one that I would definitely have placed in there. If it was the comedy angle that they were looking for, then the comedy that Lars provides is far more original, believable, sincere and heartfelt.
Lars and the Real Girl is, underneath it all a very moving love story, except that, this time, the girl is a blow up doll acquired from the internet and not a real human. I know, immediately bells, whistles and alarms go off the moment one reads ‘blow up doll’ particularly when we are talking about a completely anatomically correct blow up doll, but allow me to reassure you that there is not an ounce of indecency in this movie, aside from the fact that the doll was intended to be a sexual companion and not the object of a young man’s affections; and yet, she becomes that and so much more. When unstable Lars, trying to get over his own past begins his ‘relationship’ with Bianca (the doll), nobody knew what to make of it, much less realize how much she would touch the lives of others.
In a comedic look at what is the very real and unfortunate problem of delusion, Craig Gillespie delivers a laugh-out-loud film that is at the same time moving, touching and full of simplistic beauty. With a realistic setting, believable content, a strong plot and great acting, this movie is easily one of my favorites of the year and much more worthy of a nomination than Juno ever should have been.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Notes: Aside from some language and some sex related content, this movie is quite clean.
Quote: Gus: Pretend that she’s real? I’m just not gonna do it.
Dagmar: She is real.
Gus: Well…
Dagmar: She’s right out there.
Gus: Right, right, I get that, but I’m just not gonna, you know…
Dagmar: You won’t be able to change his mind, anyway. Bianca’s in town for a reason.
Gus: But – but…
Dagmar: It’s not really a choice.
Karin: Okay. Okay, all right, we’ll do it, whatever it takes.
Gus: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And everyone’s gonna laugh at him.
Dagmar: And you.