Post by Return of the Thin Olive Duke on Aug 5, 2016 23:52:09 GMT -5
Lars and the Real Girl
Dir. Craig Gillespie
Premiered October 12, 2007
In the fall of 2007, I began my senior year of high school, meaning I finally got to have Kevin Stremel as my English Teacher. At 24 years old, Mr. Stremel was, as far as could be told, Pasadena’s first hipster. Since he lived in the same neighborhood as my bubby, I got to know him quite well before being his student. When I finally got into his class, I found him to not be the best teacher– in fact, it was a side job for him as most of his income came from writing bank software– but he was certainly an interesting guy. When he wasn’t going by the lesson plan, he was extolling the virtues of no-cost weddings, community college, and most of all Ryan Gosling. Though I only knew of Gosling from The Notebook, Stremel wouldn’t shut up about the former mouseketeer, citing his work in Half Nelson, The Believer, and his then-most recent outing, Lars and the Real Girl.
Gus and Karin Lindstrom (Paul Schneider and Emily Mortimer) are worried. Although he seems otherwise sane, Gus’ brother Lars (Gosling) has become increasingly reclusive since the death of their father. In what Gus’ and Karin’s fears seem to be confirmed when Lars claims to have “met someone,” a Brazilian missionary named Bianca who is, in fact, an anatomically correct sex doll. In the couple’s attempts to bring Lars back into the real world, their doctor (Patricia Clarkson) suggests indulging his delusion and seeing where it goes, leading them to assist the help of their small town.
Lars and the Real Girl is funny in parts, and just rough-around-the-edges enough to avoid being twee. But most of all, it’s sweet, quite an accomplishment on the part of Gosling. A less capable actor would have made Lars creepy and offputting, but Gosling’s charisma is such that he’s able to imbue Lars with a warmth and friendliness that should not come naturally from a character who hates being touched. Altogether, it’s a nice little movie anchored by fantastic, charming performance from one of Hollywood’s finest actors.
Sign This Was Made in 2007
Product placement for Ask Jeeves.
Additional Notes
My familiarity with the predominantly Scandinavian Upper Midwest is admittedly limited, but it really rings here. What is it about these places, however, that keeps everyone looking like they live in a perpetual late 1980s-early 1990s?
Also in Theaters
Why Did I Get Married? and Lars and the Real Girl both came out on October 12, 2007. The same weekend saw the release of Elizabeth: The Golden Age (a.k.a. the ridiculous one where she rides into battle in a suit of armor), baseball b-movie The Final Season, and Brooklyn crime drama We Own the Night.
Next Time: 30 Days of Night
Dir. Craig Gillespie
Premiered October 12, 2007
In the fall of 2007, I began my senior year of high school, meaning I finally got to have Kevin Stremel as my English Teacher. At 24 years old, Mr. Stremel was, as far as could be told, Pasadena’s first hipster. Since he lived in the same neighborhood as my bubby, I got to know him quite well before being his student. When I finally got into his class, I found him to not be the best teacher– in fact, it was a side job for him as most of his income came from writing bank software– but he was certainly an interesting guy. When he wasn’t going by the lesson plan, he was extolling the virtues of no-cost weddings, community college, and most of all Ryan Gosling. Though I only knew of Gosling from The Notebook, Stremel wouldn’t shut up about the former mouseketeer, citing his work in Half Nelson, The Believer, and his then-most recent outing, Lars and the Real Girl.
Gus and Karin Lindstrom (Paul Schneider and Emily Mortimer) are worried. Although he seems otherwise sane, Gus’ brother Lars (Gosling) has become increasingly reclusive since the death of their father. In what Gus’ and Karin’s fears seem to be confirmed when Lars claims to have “met someone,” a Brazilian missionary named Bianca who is, in fact, an anatomically correct sex doll. In the couple’s attempts to bring Lars back into the real world, their doctor (Patricia Clarkson) suggests indulging his delusion and seeing where it goes, leading them to assist the help of their small town.
Lars and the Real Girl is funny in parts, and just rough-around-the-edges enough to avoid being twee. But most of all, it’s sweet, quite an accomplishment on the part of Gosling. A less capable actor would have made Lars creepy and offputting, but Gosling’s charisma is such that he’s able to imbue Lars with a warmth and friendliness that should not come naturally from a character who hates being touched. Altogether, it’s a nice little movie anchored by fantastic, charming performance from one of Hollywood’s finest actors.
Sign This Was Made in 2007
Product placement for Ask Jeeves.
Additional Notes
My familiarity with the predominantly Scandinavian Upper Midwest is admittedly limited, but it really rings here. What is it about these places, however, that keeps everyone looking like they live in a perpetual late 1980s-early 1990s?
Also in Theaters
Why Did I Get Married? and Lars and the Real Girl both came out on October 12, 2007. The same weekend saw the release of Elizabeth: The Golden Age (a.k.a. the ridiculous one where she rides into battle in a suit of armor), baseball b-movie The Final Season, and Brooklyn crime drama We Own the Night.
Next Time: 30 Days of Night