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Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Lars and the Real Girl (2007)



This film was in theaters 13 years ago but it's a trip to watch during the social distancing twenties. If you self-quarantined singletons have ever wondered if you're slowing turning crazy when you do things such as talk to the Amazon Alexa with inflection, then this film will make you feel very normal.

Normal that is, compared to the main character. Lonely Lars (Ryan Gosling) is so scared of physical closeness that he orders a doll (Bianca) to be his companion. It's hardly a one-man show; this film is packed with stellar actors.  Lars' older brother (Paul Schneider), sister-in-law (Emily Mortimer), and doctor (Patricia Clarkso
n) all play along with Lars 

Despite the premise, it's actually a sweet little PG-13 comedy and you can thank Ryan Gosling for that. He's as masterful at playing sensitive, wounded birds (Blue Valentine, Drive, La La Land) as he is with cocksure characters (Crazy Stupid Love, The Big Short).

There are so many ways that this could have gone wrong, but sincerity pulls it through.

In a nutshell: If you've been looking for something different, Lars delivers.

Award potential: None.

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.

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