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| Movie Review: Lars and the Real Girl Alternate Title: It Takes a Village
Story: Once upon a time in a
land far north of here a delusional, socially backward young man orders
an anatomically correct, life sized doll to be his girlfriend. He introduces
her to his family, co-workers and town as if she were real. Kudos to director Craig Gillespie
who manages to direct this film in a way that allows you to dismiss
your reality based cynicism and go with this sweet story. With a sensitive
screenplay by Nancy Oliver (who also wrote 7 episodes
of Six Feet Under) we easily empathize with this young man,
his pain and his delusions. In lesser hands this would have been an Adam
Sandler type of teenage tittering film, filled with moronic sex jokes,
but it is handled in a serious, sensitive manner and I bought it lock
stock and plastic doll. There are certainly some laughs, it is high on
the quirky scale and could have been shortened by about 15 minutes but
all in all, if you like films that are not run of the mill and like
to watch good acting, give this Indie a chance. Acting: Ryan Gosling is one heck
of an actor. He is making interesting choices in what will be a long
career. Patricia Clarkson, the Indie Queen, is always
good and does outstanding work as the therapist. Emily Mortimer
is terrific as the caring sister-in-law and Paul Schneider
is great as the brother. Kelli Garner and the human
wanna-be girlfriend is nervously cute. And special mention to Bianca,
whose range of acting is limited, but she was fabulous as the plastic
doll. Predilection: I like quirky films and I like Ryan
Gosling.
Critters: Surprisingly none in this town of warm
hearted people.
Food: Lots of home cooked meals including all aspects
of the food pyramid.
Sex Spectrum: No sex at all - not even with an anatomically
correct doll.
Opening Titles: Graphically pleasing opening that
gives us a sense of time and place.
Visual Art: This town up north desperately needs
a decorator.
Theater Audience: A few people and us. I think my
friend snoozed for a minute or two.
Weather: It is cold, cold, cold.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 4
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: It needed editing. It was too long.
Predictability Level: High
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be fine for this
film. For some of Ryan Gosling's other work you could rent: Half
Nelson, The Notebook, The United States of Leland and The Believer.
Length: A little under two hours
LOBO HOWLS: 7
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