Lars and the Real Girl

To quote Robert Downey Jr's character from Tropic Thunder: "You never go full retard." Sage advice that finds another prime example in the character of Lars (Ryan Gosling) in Lars and the Real Girl (2007), Craig Gillespie's pitch-perfect directorial debut penned by rookie screenwriter Nancy Oliver. Lars, in fact, isn't even technically retarded at all. He's fairly functional, holding down an office job, going to church, living alone, and presumably paying his own bills. But lingering emotional scars stemming from childhood trauma leave Lars socially crippled. He is unable to express or accept emotional or physical intimacy, even experiencing physical pain at the slightest touch. With the impending birth of his brother's first child, Lars is forced to confront the painful memories of his own mother's tragic death, and the emotional trauma sends him over the edge. Lars lapses into a complex delusion involving his new 'girlfriend,' a sex doll named Bianca.

That such a finely-tuned, superbly-scripted, hilarious and touching movie is the result of the collaboration of both a rookie scriptwriter and director is amazing. It comes as a sad shock that Gillespie's sophomore effort was the universally-panned Billy Bob Thornton & Ashton Kutcher dick-and-fart hot mess Mr. Woodcock. Here's to hoping it was ghost-directed. Or maybe it just means that Oliver's script for LatRG was so rock-solid that even inexpert directorial fumbling couldn't touch it. Regardless, LatRG is in turns hilarious and poignant, and often both at the same time. Despite dealing with some pretty bizarre subject matter, the dialogue and characterizations never feel forced. In the hands of many other screenwriters, this film would end up reeking of corn and cheese, but Oliver keeps everything balanced on the edge of a knife. Sure, her portrayal of the quirky yet accepting small town is a tad clichéd, but well within the realm of possibility.

Aside from the script, this film was also carried by its superb ensemble cast, including a powerfully subdued performance (as usual) from Patricia Clarkson as Lars's psychologist, a spot-on turn from Paul Schneider as Lars's flabbergasted brother, and Ryan Gosling's incredible Lars. I was quite surprised with Gosling's performance. I've avoided most of his movies like the plague, largely because they look like sentimental drivel or just plain crap. His performance as a troubled juvenile delinquent in The United States of Leland failed to thrill me, but so did the rest of that horridly boring movie. He more than makes up for it with LatRG.

I would definitely recommend you pick this one up. It's touching without being cheesy, it's freakin' hilarious, and it's one of the finest examples of screenwriting I think I've ever seen.

Storyline & plot: 10/10
Cinematography & effects: 6/10
Music & mood: 7/10
Performances: 8/10

The Reverend says: 8/10