This is a review of the film Lars and the Real Girl, starring Ryan Gosling which was screened at the Duke of York’s in Brighton this week.
Lars and the Real Girl was advertised as a comedy about a guy who starts to date a sex doll. It sounded like almost a Farley brothers kind of semi offensive slapstick mainstream comedy. In fact it was a sensitive portrayal of mental illness, scripted by occasional Six Feet Under writer Nancy Oliver. There are light moments, but most of them can be seen in the trailer. The rest of the film is a very warm and happy story of someone coming to terms with their issues and problems through the use of what is essentially an imaginary friend
At no point in the film does the relationship between man and doll appear sexual, she is more of a companion, although ‘anatomically correct’. Without going into the plot too much I would say that this film is closer to the Julie Christie alzhiemers drama ‘Away with me’ and the Damian Lewis film ‘Keane’ than mainstream comedy. It deals with some of the rougher sides of mental illness, as well as looking at positive outcomes and the possibility of happy endings.
As well as focusing on Lars the film looks at the other people in the small remote village where its set and focuses on how they deal with this ‘problem’ in their community. Its definitely not just about one man and his sex doll. The acting is top notch throughout, and many of scenes feel very realistic, a little like Curb Your Enthusiasm or The Office, with people occasionally seeming unsure of what they are saying, going back on themselves and occasionally becoming somewhat unintelligible. The camera work on the other hand is very traditional, and this looks like a film, not a documentary.
Lars and the Real Girl is sentimental, but sometimes thats what you look for in a film. This was heartwarming and intelligent, definitely one for an great date.
4/5
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