“Lars and the Real Girl” deals with a range of mental health issues, particularly depression and loneliness, and does so in a loving and entertaining way. The film stars Ryan Gosling as the titular character, and its charm and value have put it in my Top Favorite Films list.
Set in a quaint small town in the blustery cold suburbs of the Midwest, the film revolves around Lars Lindstrom (Gosling) who lives in a garage apartment behind his childhood home. Residing inside the house proper are his older brother Gus (Paul Schneider) and sister-in-law Karin (Emily Mortimer). One of the film’s best attributes is the family bond between the brothers and Karin. We see immediately that Lars is a loner and socially reserved, but it doesn’t stop Karin from comically trying to get him to be involved with the family.
The acting from the three leads is excellent, with Ryan Gosling demonstrating his ability to be more than just a pretty face. As the peculiar Lars, Gosling channels an unmatchable ability to recreate a character that, while afflicted with mental illness, is a compassionate and caring individual. Likewise, Paul Schneider and Emily Mortimer are perfect as a counterbalance to Lars. Each has their own specific qualities, with Gus being a loving brother who operates in a hands off way, and Karin is much more nurturing and flamboyant in her desires to connect with Lars.
What we get with “Lars and the Real Girl” is a unique story that deals with the issues of mental health in a humorous and exotic style as Lars acquires a life sized anatomical sex doll named Bianca and proceeds to carry out a plutonic though loving relationship with her. Yes, it’s bizarre and the premise may scare you away from watching, but trust me in that the journey you will take with Lars and his family is worth the strangeness. The film’s purpose comes from the bond the small town inhabitants show to Lars and Bianca, with comical and touching interactions, and it’s an excellent metaphor for real life dealings with mental illness. Lars and his brother have a much deeper backstory that’s hinted at from the start and never blatantly revealed. Instead, we get pieces here and there that are compiled like a puzzle, one layer at a time.
The supporting characters lend depth and quality to the movie with the likes of Patricia Clarkson playing family doctor/psychologist Dr. Dagmar Berman who uses her skills to reach Lars, and Kelli Garner as the quirky Margo, a co-worker who has a romantic interest in him. The subtle score to the production is a fantastic mood setter and lends to the overall piece in a blissful way. I’m an avid hater of winter but there is something magical and envious about the nameless town with which the events take place.
“Lars and the Real Girl” is unorthodox to say the least. It’s superbly acted and written and thoroughly entertaining and heartfelt. It’s a great introspective into the way we interact with each other. It can balance laughs with tears, and the assembled cast take the production to the next level of amazing.
