Movie: 4
Film: 3
As a woman I tend to frequent romantic comedies. I believe it is a genetic predisposition. That said I am usually annoyed by them. I find them hokey and cutesy and believe they require too great a suspension of disbelief. Sometimes that make me angry and unbelievably, more bitter than I normally am already. However, when they work, they can be some of the most satisfying cinema around. It gives a viewer a feeling of warmth that they can carry around for the rest of the day. “Lars and the Real Girl” is in the second category. Not only was this one of the sweetest comedies I have seen in years, but this was one of my favorite movies that I have seen this year period.
Lars Lindstrom (Ryan Gosling) is a quiet, gentle man who lives in the converted garage behind the main house he grew up in. His married brother Gus (Paul Schneider) lives in the main house with his pregnant wife Karin. As Lars’ mother died during his childbirth, he is having an increasingly difficult time dealing with his sister in law’s pregnancy. This unease coupled with his extreme social awkwardness manifests itself in the form of an imaginary girlfriend. Well, partially imaginary at least.
Considering that half of this couple is an inanimate object, this was still one of the sweetest love stories I have ever seen. The story is more about the kind nature of Lars and how he sees life through such a skewed view of the world. Even so, he may be one of the sanest people in the town. His innocence and kindness are what people respond to and it is because of these character traits that the small town is willing to bend over backwards to help Lars get well again. The audience can root for Lars to notice the love struck Margo, but ultimately the audience just wants Lars to be happy. It has been a long time since I have seen a character that is so lovable and endearing. A lot of that has to do with Gosling’s performance. Gosling captures the part so beautifully not just in terms of what he says or how he says it but also in the facial and body tics he adds to the character. The downturn of his mouth and the way he has to blink with both eyes in a very determined fashion give the character life and presence. Couple that with the beautiful and charming script turned out by Nancy Oliver, and you have one of the most likeable characters I have seen in years.
Paul Schneider (whom I have loved since “All the Real Girls”) plays brother Gus and does a fantastic job of straddling that line between man who doesn’t want to play into Lars’ fantasy and the concerned older brother who can’t bear to watch Lars suffer. It is a moving and subtle performance by Schneider. Mortimer is also a joy to watch as the sister in law who just wants Lars to be happy no matter what it takes.
The direction makes the most of these brilliant, heart felt performances. You can almost feel the love radiate off the screen. The music, the framing, the pacing, all clicks in just the right way. In fact, it was difficult to find anything in the film that didn’t work for me. Even the brief forays into the lives of other townspeople didn’t seem off track for me. Why? Because this story is as much about the love of the town for Lars as it is about his family. There is no pity for him. There is only the support that comes from a small town eager to help one of its own get through a hard time. It is sweet and comforting and that feeling sticks with you long after the film ends.
Considering that half of this couple is an inanimate object, this was still one of the sweetest love stories I have ever seen. The story is more about the kind nature of Lars and how he sees life through such a skewed view of the world. Even so, he may be one of the sanest people in the town. His innocence and kindness are what people respond to and it is because of these character traits that the small town is willing to bend over backwards to help Lars get well again. The audience can root for Lars to notice the love struck Margo, but ultimately the audience just wants Lars to be happy. It has been a long time since I have seen a character that is so lovable and endearing. A lot of that has to do with Gosling’s performance. Gosling captures the part so beautifully not just in terms of what he says or how he says it but also in the facial and body tics he adds to the character. The downturn of his mouth and the way he has to blink with both eyes in a very determined fashion give the character life and presence. Couple that with the beautiful and charming script turned out by Nancy Oliver, and you have one of the most likeable characters I have seen in years.
Paul Schneider (whom I have loved since “All the Real Girls”) plays brother Gus and does a fantastic job of straddling that line between man who doesn’t want to play into Lars’ fantasy and the concerned older brother who can’t bear to watch Lars suffer. It is a moving and subtle performance by Schneider. Mortimer is also a joy to watch as the sister in law who just wants Lars to be happy no matter what it takes.
The direction makes the most of these brilliant, heart felt performances. You can almost feel the love radiate off the screen. The music, the framing, the pacing, all clicks in just the right way. In fact, it was difficult to find anything in the film that didn’t work for me. Even the brief forays into the lives of other townspeople didn’t seem off track for me. Why? Because this story is as much about the love of the town for Lars as it is about his family. There is no pity for him. There is only the support that comes from a small town eager to help one of its own get through a hard time. It is sweet and comforting and that feeling sticks with you long after the film ends.
I wanted to see Lars since I first saw the trailer. It looked perfect, but never played over here. Can't wait to see it on DVD.
just saw Lars and the Real Girl, Gosling did a great job playing out his character's psychological transitions... it was considerate of the movie's producers to leave out the predictable small-town drama as well