Lars and the Real

One of the first scenes of the movie has Lars (Ryan Gosling) introducing his new girlfriend Bianca to his brother and sister-in-law. Typical beginning of a movie scene, right? The catch here is that Bianca is a plastic sex doll in a wheelchair that Lars bought over the Internet. “Lars and the Real Girl” strikes an unexpected chord between two themes that most people would not associate together: love and mental illness.
Ryan Gosling plays a convincing delusional with continuous awkward moments (not necessarily consisting of him talking to his plastic girlfriend) to go along with his quirks: constant blinking and clumsy fumbling. As his brother and sister-in-law grow gradually more concerned with Lars’ mental health, they enlist the help of the towns local doctor and psychologist.
As hard as it is for his family to accept, Dr. Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson) urges them to go along with Lars’ fantasy. Next to follow is the acceptance of Bianca by the community. The scenes here are both touching and funny at the same time. The community goes along with Lars’ delusion by having her volunteer at a kindergarten as well as giving her a part-time job at the town boutique. Writer Nancy Oliver (“Six Feet Under”) has a clear understanding of the importance of family and community which shines through out the movie. Unfortunately, this becomes problematic as the movie draws to a close.
Lars’ delusional state and quirky behavior are a given but after that, viewers really never really get to know the character. During sessions with Dr. Dagmar, we learn the reasons behind his emotional state: the pregnancy of this sister-in-law, the death of his mother during his pregnancy, but we never get to know Lars. However; we do get to know Gus (Lars’ brother) and Karin (his sister-in-law) as they struggle with guilt, frustration and Lars’ delusion.
Lars’ character is not the only part section of the movie that is underdeveloped. A love-Lorne co-worker, Margo, constantly flirts with Lars. As the movie progresses, their relationship begins to take shape but after a few fleeting scenes between Lars and Margo, the movie comes to an end and leaves the relationship in limbo.
While certain characters and relationships in the movie go undeveloped, the film is an overall success. Director Craig Gillespie refrains from crude humor and inappropriate sex scenes (involving dolls) to make a light-hearted comedy. The balance struck between humor and heartache is a rare find today in the world of cinema, but “Lars and the Real Girl” will make you laugh and think, especially outside of the box.