<SPAN>Lars and the Real Girl (Gillespie, 2007)</SPAN>
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<SPAN>How exactly can we truly define the word “real”? The conventional definition states that it’s simply the being of an actual thing that has an objective existence and is not imaginary. How about feelings then? They’re not actual things, but nor are they imaginary. Emotions are as real as tables and chairs, but yet their causes, effects and tendencies are far more complex than anything else within the objective realm. Lars and the Real Girl is a film that expands on these thoughts and asks the question: what, how, or when does something become real? Is it emotional investment, personal meaning, or an altogether intangible variable that instills realness into the world? While the film doesn’t answer all of these questions, it provides an insightfully humorous look at how one man redefines realism by giving life to an anatomically correct doll, who also happens to be his girlfriend. </SPAN>
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<SPAN>The film opens with Lars (Ryan Gosling) staring intently out his window at his brother’s house from the single roomed garage, which doubles as his own home. When his sister-in-law Karin (Emily Mortimer) suddenly appears and starts in Lars’s direction, he retreats from the doorway, seemingly scared of the impending conversation. Such is life for the mustachioed recluse, who despite his eccentricities and awkwardness, is well liked by a town of people who are genuinely interested in him, and take pity on his lonely, secluded lifestyle. There’s obviously a deeply rooted psychological issue that prevents Lars from having both emotional and physical human contact, because as hard as they try, nobody can get past the protective shield that barricades him in his own world.</SPAN>
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<SPAN><SPAN> </SPAN>One day, when Lars arrives on his brother Gus’s (Paul Schneider) doorstep announcing that he has a new girlfriend named Bianca, everything changes; Bianca is a life-sized blow up doll that Lars treats as a living, breathing person. Though initially unsure of how to handle these strange circumstances, the community submits to Lars and accepts the challenges of love, patience and friendship; all the while teetering on the brink of the bizarre, with a mere foot remaining in reality. Acting as a conduit of communication between Lars and his friends, Bianca becomes more real than anybody could ever imagine, once again casting doubt on the limitations we impose on our own realities. </SPAN>
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<SPAN>The script is wisely written with a strict and unwavering focus on drama which never forces jokes on us, instead stepping aside to allow the hilarity of the situation to provide a natural comedy that you just can’t help but laugh at. It’s this stroke of genius that carries Craig Gillespie’s film, making it a charmingly heart-felt tale that’s funny in a kind and gentle way, as opposed to the rude and blatant humor that saturates many of today’s comedies. One of the main reasons why the comedy works so well is the supporting cast, who are all absolutely excellent. From Gus’s tired sarcasm to Dagmar’s (Patricia Clarkson) motherly touch with Lars and all they way down to the smallest characters in the film, the entire cast does a great job in creating a totally believable situation and inspiring a truly thought provoking experience. </SPAN>
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<SPAN>Lars and the Real Girl</SPAN><SPAN> does just about everything right, but it still couldn’t have succeeded without Ryan Gosling, who goes above and beyond perfection with his portrayal of Lars. Everything about the character is meticulously created by Gosling, who layers Lars with lovable mannerisms and idiosyncrasies that immediately endear him to the audience. Most importantly, however, is his astoundingly genuine interaction with Bianca that renders her as real as any other character in the film. After about an hour, it isn’t even strange to see the unmoving, unspeaking and lifeless Bianca on screen, because despite her inadequacies, she’s a reality for everybody. Gosling looks, speaks, touches and cares for her like she is the only thing that matters, and in creating such a “real” relationship, he essentially has two jobs; one is the persona of Lars and the other is infusing Bianca with her realness. Gosling handles these duties flawlessly and gives a truly special performance in undoubtedly the best role of his career. </SPAN>

<SPAN>The conclusion of the film, which could’ve been handled in a variety of ways, provides an emotionally charged ending which surely cements Lars and the Real Girl as one of the best films of 2007. It leaves no doubts or questions about Bianca’s true nature, but it will leave you pondering your own life; albeit with a warm, fuzzy sensation revolving around the goodness of life, love, and the weird moments in time which can redefine the boundaries of both the mind and heart.</SPAN>