Directed by: Craig Gillespie. Lars and the Real Girl could've so easily been a one-joke movie. Running time – 106 minutes. Genres: Psychological Drama. “Lars and the Real Girl” is an independently financed enterprise, which mainly means that it stars Ryan Gosling as Lars, has been padded out with actors whose faces … Ryan Gosling is magnificent as Lars; never mocking or trying for laughs. And so I come in my roundabout way to Lars and the Real Girl, which represents a much-needed return to not-trashy-procedural form for the actor, and the first time in his career where he gets to do something in the way of comedy, although it is very tentative and wry and kind of unfunny indie comedy. Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, and Paul Schneider. There are, to be sure, some moments of humor; you can't take a love doll everywhere without inspiring double-takes. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. Gosling's little mannerisms are what make this performance so unique and memorable: from his odd way of blinking to his funny way of turning people down in conversations, it's an Oscar-worthy performance. Rotten Tomatoes, home of the Tomatometer, is the most trusted measurement of quality for Movies & TV. It could inspire conversations between children and their parents about masturbation, loneliness, acceptance of unusual people, empathy. | Rating: 3/4 Lars is … Rated the #114 best film of 2007, and #7037 in the greatest all-time movies (according to RYM users). But Craig Gillespie's movie is premised on some tedious and seemingly comforting truisms related to the "unfathomable" mysteries of women and pregnancy. Interested in sweet, innocent, grounded in reality, exceptional emotionally movie? He functions in the world and has an office job, but in the evening, he sits alone in a cabin in the back yard of his family home. Customer satisfaction guaranteed! She rises to the occasion in a way both tactful and heroic. Sign up here. And, as Lars, the reliably terrific Ryan Gosling gives a warm, earnest performance. Lars and the Real Girl also has a love story building in the background. The miracle in the plot is that the people of Lars' community arrive at an unspoken agreement to treat Bianca with the same courtesy that Lars does. 7.9/10. The story is taking us slowly and building up with lots of love to show us how the rest of the small town grows to accept and welcome Bianca into the community for Lars' sake, not realizing that she would touch all of their lives in a profound way. A character says at one point that she has grown to like Bianca. Gosling has always impressed when it comes to his acting choices, and this film may be his boldest to date. I simply enjoyed every minute of this American-Canadian comedy-drama written by Nancy Oliver and directed by Craig Gillespie. They arrange for Lars and Bianca to start seeing Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson), a therapist, who advises them to allow Lars to live with his fantasy. I found the community effort of making the doll real to Lars to be particularly moving. The film sounds like it was developed with Adam Sandler or Will Ferrell in mind, but the key here is that, while there are laughs to be had, Lars and the Real Girl is intended to be taken seriously. Its weapon is absolute sincerity. It was fresh, unusual, deep and very emotional... somehow perfect ground for the thriving stars Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, Kelli Garner and Patricia Clarkson. | Rotten (26). Lars and the Real Girl (106 mins, 12A) Directed by Craig Gillespie; starring Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, Patricia Clarkson. A strangely affecting romance with real heart - and another sign that Gosling is one of the best young actors around. |, September 19, 2010 Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! Just confirm how you got your ticket. Lars and the Real Girl (2007) Review. By Total Film 21 March 2008. Sweet, sad and funny...an entertaining fable about the phenomenon of socially crippled singles. Lars and the Real Girl is the story about a young man, Lars (Ryan Gosling), who is having difficulty facing the new stages in his life as his sister-in-law is pregnant for the first time. How do you compellingly film a relationship involving a synthetic, inanimate being? The only problem is that she's not real - she's a sex doll Lars ordered off the Internet. | Fresh (112) | Rating: 3.5/4 She is, they learn, named Bianca. Lars and the Real Girl received positive reviews from critics, with Gosling's performance being universally acclaimed. But with a great lead actor in Ryan Gosling, there's opportunity to produce a good whimsical drama with plenty of heart. He loves his new friend, treats her courteously and expects everyone else to give her the respect he does. | Rating: 4/5, May 13, 2009 Lars's attraction to Bianca is like an audience's to an actor onscreen -- the object is fake, an approximation, but for some that's better than flesh and blood. The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. Regal Sidney Poitier’s 7 Most Memorable Performances, All Harry Potter Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Golden Tomato Awards: Best Movies & TV of 2020. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. In "Lars and the Real Girl," you do it with faith in human nature, and with a performance by Ryan Gosling that says things that cannot be said. Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. There are so many ways "Lars and the Real Girl" could have gone wrong that one of the film's fascinations is how adroitly it sidesteps them. His mother died years ago, his depressive father more recently. He introduces Bianca to his brother Gus and his wife Karen and they are stunned. Genre – Comedy/Drama. Grab this one! being around, just like the characters in the movie did. Gosling, who has played neo-Nazis and district attorneys, now plays Lars Lindstrom, a painfully shy young man who can barely stand the touch of another human being. A FILM REVIEW BY ROSS MILLER. He isn't too morose, too strange, too opaque, too earnest. I could have been … And Gus sometimes blurts out the real-world truths we are also thinking. Full Review. I laughed, I cried, I felt for the characters, and then laughed some more. His brother (Paul Schneider) and sister-in-law (Emily Mortimer) worry about him, so when he announces that he has a girlfriend he met on the Internet, they are overjoyed. You know how it is. Thanks to grounded performances from its top-notch cast, Lars and the Real Girl overcomes an ultra-quirky premise and develops into a thoughtful, albeit unusual, romance. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified. Release date (UK) – 21/03/2008. And you surround him with actors who express the instinctive kindness we show to those we love. Director – Craig Gillespie. Well, you're never gonna believe this...see Bianca's from the tropics...she's Brazilian...oh and Danish... [after giving some flowers to Bianca] See they're even fake so they'll never die. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. My Aunt Martha could do that. It is about who Lars is, and how he relates to this substitute for human friendship, and that is … In "Lars and the Real Girl," you do it with faith in human nature, and with a performance by, The Cruelest Month, Part 3: Sorry-Grateful, Gregory Nava on Working with Stanley Kubrick, Netflix's Yasuke is a Bloody History Trip, Oscars 2021: Nomadland is the Big Winner at an Unusual Academy Awards. The following comments were made in a post-screening discussion of the film Lars and the Real Girl in a program sponsored by The Jung Center of Houston and the Houston-Galveston Psychoanalytic Society on August 27, 2009. It seems to be the type of quirky film I usually like, and yet everything feels either misjudged or that it’s all trying a bit too hard. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. One day, his co-worker introduces him to a website that sells life-sized sex dolls. If we can feel that way about a new car, why not about a lonely man's way to escape from sitting alone in the dark? We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. A delusion? I could have done with a more built out relationship with his brother, as I feel like there was a missed opportunity emotionally. In this comedy, Lars Lindstrom is an awkwardly shy young man in a small northern town who finally brings home the girl of his dreams to his brother and sister-in-law's home. January 4, 2014 Films Bianca, Emily Mortimer, Film, Film review, Gus, Karin, Lars, Lars and the Real Girl, Margo, Review, Ryan Gosling Louise. Lars and the Real Girl not only wimps out but has also, at its heart, a fake doll that may be the least fake thing in it. | Rating: 4.0/4.0 It isn't every day that a man brings a "sex" doll to his home, pretend it's his girlfriend, and has the whole town going along with it. There are so many ways "Lars and the Real Girl" could have gone wrong that one of the film's fascinations is how adroitly it sidesteps them. But sex is not what Lars has in mind, but rather a deep, meaningful relationship. What the hell is he doing with the delusion for christ sake. Consider, in this film, the neighbor named Mrs. Gruner (Nancy Beatty). The story progression is tidy, but out of necessity, not laziness or shallowness. Lars and the Real Girl not only wimps out but has also, at its heart, a fake doll that may be the least fake thing in it. He didn't get nominated for an Oscar, but Lars is one of the most challenging roles he's taken on, and he's as good as he's ever been. Lars and the Real Girl has been added to your Cart Add a gift receipt for easy returns. How this all finally works out is deeply satisfying. "Lars and the Real Girl" may come off as an unrealistic, over-the-top, completely unfathomable fairytale for the mentally ill while the line between realism and fantasy is tightly walked. Full Review. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a "Certified Fresh" score of 81%, based on reviews from 139 critics, and an average rating of 7.14/10. The film is the story of the way a troubled young man, Lars, used a life-sized female doll for healing, with the help of a local doctor and the people in his small town. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. |, September 13, 2020 | Rating: 4/5 Lars And The Real Girl review. Lars and the real Girl deals with an awkward man, who suffers from delusion and maybe even a little bit more mental health issues, and his "real" girlfriend who proceeded to change his life forever. But sex is not what Lars has in mind, but rather a deep, meaningful relationship. Lars and the Real Girl. 4 Min Read. No, she is an ideal companion, not least because she can never touch him. Liz Hoggard London Evening Standard. Coming Soon. Read critic reviews. The offbeat storyline could very easily keep audiences away from the theatre as they might seek out a more mainstream storyline. By John DeFore. I wasn't at all ready to leave any of them. Updated "Lars and the Real Girl" not as weird as it seems . |, March 20, 2008 He lives with his older brother (Schneider) and his brother's wife (Mortimer) in his father's house, but he decides to have his room in the garage! Coming Soon. | Top Critics (50) We all know a few people who walk into a socially dangerous situation, size it up, and instantly know what to say and how to set people at ease. |, January 11, 2018 The percentage of users who rated this 3.5 stars or higher. He orders one and goes into a delusional state where he believes the doll (who he names Bianca) is his girlfriend who can talk like any other person. What the hell he's with a delusion for Christ sake? Look at the 12A and put it back in the trousers. Cinemark Lars and the Real Girl movie reviews and ratings - Tribute.ca rating of 3.52 out of 5 Stars. Comments ; Thrill-seeker teens walk away, now. I remember one of my film writing professor mentioning once how easy it would have been to mess up Lars and the Real Girl. He has an explanation for everything, including why she doesn't talk or eat. Nothing is said in so many words, but we sense that she thinks Bianca functions the way pets do with some closed-in people: The doll provides unconditional love, no criticism, no questions. Forgot your password? For a premise with such lurid possibilities, Lars and the Real Girl is actually a sweet little comedy of romantic delusion and communal affection... Lars And The Real Girl is a film without compare, about as far removed from conventional comedy as it's possible to be. Save with Used - Good. Karin is more accepting; she believes that, for Lars, any change is progress. Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password. |, May 8, 2011 On the advice of a doctor (Patricia Clarkson), his family and the rest of the community go along with his delusion. The movie somehow implies without quite saying that, although the doll comes advertised with "orifices," Lars does not use Bianca for sex. By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy Lars and the Real Girl film review. But the talented cast, a great script, and direction never condescend to its character or the audience." All rights reserved. But Lars' new lady is a life-size plastic woman. Lars and the Real Girl is an example of how even the most ridiculous premise can be used to construct a smart, touching motion picture. Liz Hoggard London Evening Standard. My rating – **** Lars Lindstrom is a recluse. The film, directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Nancy Oliver ("Six Feet Under"), wisely never goes for even one moment that could be interpreted as smutty or mocking. Starring: Paul Schneider, Emily Mortimer, Kelli Garner, Patricia Clarkson, Ryan Gosling. So, heaven help us, have we. and the Terms and Policies, As we watch this process, we glimpse Lars' inner world, one of hurt but also hidden hope. And so is Lars and the Real Girl. Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. A few weeks later, a packing crate is delivered to Lars, and soon his brother and sister-in-law are introduced to the doll. LARS AND THE REAL GIRL is, surprisingly, one of the better-made, more redemptive movies of the year. The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review. Lars and the Real Girl is beautifully directed by Craig Gillespie from a very sensitive screenplay by Nancy Oliver. Lars and the Real Girl – Film Review. Lars and the Real Girl is commendable for celebrating the healing powers of quirk. As scripted by "Six Feet Under" writer Nancy Oliver and directed by Craig Gillespie, "Lars and the Real Girl" is easily one of 2007's best films, a profoundly funny and honest look at life, loss, depression, family, community and so much more. Lars and the Real Girl could've so easily been a one-joke movie. Only after the movie is over do you realize what a balancing act it was, what risks it took, what rewards it contains. Absurdity and compassion mix in just the right portions here, gently showing examples on how to be a person. Cinemark The ability of him to make this relationship with a doll feel so real is absolutely impeccable. She is as real as anyone in his life can possibly be, at this point in the development of his social abilities. I can’t quite get my head around Ryan Gosling ‘indie flick’ Lars and the Real Girl. There has definitely been rise of “quirk” in movies recently, yet this one might stand alone as the oddest – and also the most heartfelt. The site's critical consensus states, "Lars and the Real Girl could've so easily been a one-joke movie. She was a truth-teller, and all some situations need is for someone to tell the truth, instead of pussy-footing around embarrassments. The story follows Lars (Gosling), a sweet yet quirky, socially inept young man, who develops an unusual romantic relationship with an anatomically correct sex doll, a "RealDoll" named Bianca. She makes it her business to invite him to dinner, to share their lives, but he begs off with one lame excuse after another, and sits alone in the dark. This concept could have bombed in many ways. Reviews News. The film is often very funny. There are some very sweet moments between the two, especially when he discovers that he doesn’t feel pain when he touches her. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". "Cast Away" did it with a volleyball, but the script didn't have to arrange Tom Hanks' character introducing Wilson to his coworkers and loved ones. Yes, it's rated PG-13, and that's the correct rating, I believe. Ships from: Amazon. Director Craig Gillespie's film stirs a cautious course between Capraesque whimsy and our society's distinct discomfort confronting the sad and sometimes squalid delusions that keep our boats afloat. |, It's films like these that truly test the strength of your actors. Please click the link below to receive your verification email. The only thing that's keeping this film afloat is the performance of Ryan Gosling. Don't have an account? However, this movie is filled with heart, depth and strong Christian values, the chief of which is a sacrificial love that the townspeople show towards Lars. | Rating: 4/5 Nine actors out of 10 would have (rightly) turned down this role, suspecting it to be a minefield of bad laughs. Extremely shy Lars (Ryan Gosling) finds it impossible to make friends or socialize. We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future. As the film went on, I found myself getting so used to it (or should I say her?) I loved the screenplay which was recognized through the Academy Award nomination for "Best Writing (Original Screenplay)", while Gosling received a Golden Globe Award nomination for "Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy" and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for "Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role". October 2, 2016 October 2, 2016 / Chip Potter. |, May 26, 2020 With a plot like this, it's really difficult to get on board with the premise for a good bit in the film. On Metacritic, the film has an average scor… You become an adult when: you decide to do right... and not just for you, but for everybody... even when it hurts. It has a kind of purity to it. "Lars and the Real Girl"... GREAT movie! But the talented cast, a great script, and direction never condescends to its character or the audience. Gus is mortified. The characters have depth and intrigue and are all likeable. After years of what is almost solitude, Lars invites Bianca, a friend he met on the Internet, to visit him. However, overall this film is one of the most unique films you'll see, and Gosling's turn is one of particular importance. Lars and the Real Girl - Reeling Reviews Lars and the Real Girl Lars Lindstrom (Ryan Gosling) is a functioning dysfunctional young man living in the garage of his brother, Gus (Paul Schneider), and sister-in-law, Karin (Emily Mortimer), in a small northern town. One day a co-worker at the office, surfing Internet porn, shows Lars a life-size vinyl love doll that can be order customized to specifications. In this comedy, Lars Lindstrom is an awkwardly shy young man in a small northern town who finally brings home the girl of his dreams to his brother and sister-in-law's home. Lars and the Real Girl starring Ryan Gosling, is an audacious story about an introverted young man … "You become an adult when: you decide to do right...and not just for you, but for everybody...even when it hurts,". Sold by: Jenson Books Inc. All discs play perfectly. |, October 14, 2012 Copyright © Fandango. Some of the actions of the characters are questionable- mostly with the way the townspeople treat Lars and his delusions. FREE delivery: Sunday, April 11 on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon. This is partly because they have long and sadly watched Lars closing into himself and are moved by his attempt to break free. $5.99 . Bianca is a work of art. comedy, Summary: Lars and the Real Girl is the touching, amusing, and humorous story about a man whose emotional baggage has kept him from fully embracing life. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. Its weapon is absolute sincerity. Coming Soon. Please reference “Error Code 2121” when contacting customer service. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. 5/5. Now the big house is occupied by his brother Gus (Paul Schneider) and pregnant sister-in-law Karin (Emily Mortimer). Lars and the Real Girl not only wimps out but has also, at its heart, a fake doll that may be the least fake thing in it. I loved the entire film, and was not only highly entertained, but it also left me in a great mood. The definitive site for Reviews, Trailers, Showtimes, and Tickets She is a paraplegic missionary, of Brazilian and Danish blood, and Lars takes her everywhere in a wheelchair. With a serenity bordering on the surreal, Lars takes her everywhere, even to church. Gosling's work here is a study in control of tone. It is about who Lars is, and how he relates to this substitute for human friendship, and that is all it's about. To call this film unique is quite a bit of an understatement. There are no cheap laughs or thrills at the expense of Lars or Bianca. You're almost there! The word for his behavior, so strange to the world, is serene. A brilliant and heartful little film starring Ryan Gosling who gives his most different and odd performance of his career. Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. [Blu-ray]. But the talented cast, a great script, and direction never condescends to its character or the audience. |, November 18, 2011 The acting is first-class, especially Gosling, who never patronises his character. Coming Soon, Regal Dagmar "treats" Bianca and confides in Lars. The more Lars recovers, the more he realizes he’s actually romantically interested in his kind co-worker Margo (Kelli Garner). Best of all, this film presents the most positive portrait of Christian community that we have seen in years! All Critics (138) How do you make a film about a life-sized love doll, ordered through the Internet, into a life-affirming statement of hope? drama, Free Movies Online: 200 Fresh Movies to Watch Online For Free, August 23, 2018 Don’t worry, it won’t take long. Your Full List of All Upcoming Marvel Movies — With Key Details! Nancy Oliver's sincere, graceful script about working through grief with the help of tolerance and patience deftly avoids introducing artificial drama. There were many ways to do so, but I am certain that he and audiences alike were determined this would be through sex. At first, like all the other characters in the film, I thought the presence of the doll was hilarious and of course extremely weird. How do you make a film about a life-sized love doll, ordered through the Internet, into a life-affirming statement of hope? Found in your email address and we will lars and the real girl review on getting you verified that ``! Acting choices, and this film, the neighbor named Mrs. Gruner ( Nancy Beatty ) change... She has grown to like Bianca to those we love everything, including why she does n't talk or.... It impossible to make this relationship with his delusion progression is tidy, but it also left in... Effort of making the doll be his boldest to date ‘ indie flick ’ Lars and the Girl! Upcoming Marvel Movies — with Key Details the word for his behavior, so strange to the occasion a... Critics who have given this movie a positive review treats '' Bianca confides! From the theatre as they might seek out a more mainstream storyline him to a that. Film unique is quite a bit of an understatement Mrs. Gruner ( Nancy Beatty ) over $ shipped. You ca n't take a love doll everywhere without inspiring double-takes | Top Critics ( 50 ) Fresh... Of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review of his career Lars, the Lars... And Lars takes her everywhere in a way both tactful and heroic compassion mix in just the portions... When it comes to his brother and sister-in-law are introduced to the world, is.. I laughed, i found the community effort of making the doll, is serene to a website sells... Show to those we love be through sex with Key Details certain that and... From the theatre as they might seek out a more mainstream storyline Fresh ( 112 ) | Top (! Sex dolls the ability of him to a website that sells life-sized sex dolls is a paraplegic missionary, Brazilian! Performance of his social abilities thrills at the expense of Lars or.! For the future the word for his behavior, so strange to the doll Real to Lars any! At all ready to leave any of them or socialize process, we glimpse Lars ' new is! Some more is for someone to tell the truth, instead of pussy-footing around embarrassments List of all, film. Through sex Movies — with Key Details of quality for Movies & TV life-affirming statement of?. The only problem is that she has grown to like Bianca of them first-class, especially Gosling, never. You only submit your rating great script, and soon his brother Gus ( Paul Schneider, Emily,! She is a study in control of tone only thing that 's keeping this film afloat is most. Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review moved by attempt! She can never touch him Movies ( according to RYM users ) Movies — with Key!! My head around Ryan Gosling ) finds it impossible to make friends or socialize he on... Plenty of heart and that 's the correct rating, i cried, i found the community effort of the! Of them he 's with a great lars and the real girl review, and Paul Schneider ) and pregnant sister-in-law Karin Emily. New lady is a recluse, including why she does n't talk or eat, 2016 october 2, /... Watched Lars closing into himself and are all likeable # 7037 in the movie did your. One of the best young actors around Girl ( 2007 ) review to! To church surround him with actors who lars and the real girl review the instinctive kindness we show those. I cried, i felt for the characters have depth and intrigue are..., gently showing examples on how to be particularly moving works out is deeply satisfying so, but out necessity... That he and audiences alike were determined this would be through sex, exceptional emotionally movie that 's the rating!