Lars and the Real Girl (Blu-ray)
I had no idea what to expect when I sat down to watch LARS AND THE REAL GIRL. To say the storyline was surprising is a huge understatement. It totally threw me for a loop and I am so glad it did! To simply explain LARS AND THE REAL GIRL, it is a touching story about love and all of the forms love can take. However, those who are familiar with this film or are interested in seeing it, there is so much more to the story than just the various forms of love. Ultimately, the story is about a young man, Lars (Ryan Gosling), and his relationship void until he establishes a very real relationship with a lifelike doll named Bianca.
Despite the unorthodox love story premise, this film is not one to be overlooked or ignored. It is easy, slowly sucking you in, where you suddenly are invested in Lars, his family and Bianca’s fate. This script would have fallen apart in the wrong hands and with the wrong actors. Director Craig Gillespie did an outstanding job telling this sweet tale of a man so fearful of relationships and the potential loss they bring that he resorts to an imaginary relationship with a doll. The small town’s reaction was special to say the least. Having doubts, being shocked, accepting and eventually loving Bianca all because they cared so deeply for Lars was moving. Easily this could have come off as cheesy or forced but within the pain of seeing someone cope with their emotions by having a doll-girlfriend they found humor and joy.
Karen (Emily Mortimer) and Gus (Paul Schneider) are brilliant in this picture. As Lars’ sister-in-law and brother the concern they share for Lars pre-doll is questionable and the surprise of being introduced to Bianca is beyond comical. The awkward shock of having a life size doll in their living room had me crying with laughter. Oh the looks on their faces! Priceless. Together, Mortimer and Schneider made an excellent pair. Schneider was fantastic in his older brother role just wanting to fix Lars as quickly as possible. Mortimer captured the good-intentions of her character terrifically. Patricia Clarkson’s character Dagmar was subtle and so necessary! She helped explain a lot of the questions the viewer had about Lars and his new relationship decision perfectly.
Lastly, praise must be given for Ryan Gosling’s superb performance as main character, Lars. I have to admit, when Gosling first appeared in films, I was not sold on him as an actor. However, with time and each new movie he is in, I am eating my words. He is so endearing as Lars! Awkward and funny; when he throws the flower before running off after Margo greets him outside of church – hilarious! Watching him tell Bianca she looks beautiful in her bathrobe while sitting at the kitchen table is a tender and genuine moment. Seeing him wrestle with a wide range of emotions, he takes us on an incredible journey of discovering what it takes for him to become a man and let go of Bianca.
If you are looking for a tender yet quirky film about romance and hope, this is your film.
BLU-RAY REVIEW
Video (Widescreen 1.85:1): Sharp and clear picture. No mistaking who is a real girl.
Audio (5.1 DTS HD Master Audio): Perfect audio for the dialogue driven film.
Deleted scene (:54): A bathtub scene where we see Lars unraveling. I’m glad they didn’t go this route, though director Chris Gillespie seems to disagree with me.
The REAL Story of Lars and the Real Girl (10:11): A typical making of where the cast and crew praise one another and the fantastic script.
A REAL Leading Lady (5:55): Not my favorite feature. The cast and crew answer interview questions about Bianca as though she were a ‘real’ girl. Really cheesy.
Theatrical Trailer
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