Lars and the Real Girl

Definitely not a comedy, this is a tear-jerking study of mental health that feels painfully real. Gosling demonstrates such sympathy for his character in a performance of great beauty and simplicity. The story has echoes of the down-home community feel of It's a Wonderful Life or some of the Ealing comedies, such as Passport to Pimlico. Definitely recommended.

People experiencing loneliness or other mental health issues are often unfairly stigmatised, especially if they are in their younger years.

They are often seen as socially awkward or 'weirdos.' It is truly unfortunate that their underlying problems are generally overlooked. Instead of understanding their struggles and hardships, we quickly assign negative labels to them, deeming them unfit for society.

If only we could see them with a little bit of compassion and try to understand their struggles, the world would be a much better place.

Returning to the film, there is a certain sweetness and warmth to it that becomes contagious.

While it may not be as intense or serious as other films with similar topics tend to be, it still prompts viewers to contemplate the lives of such individuals, and that is admirable.

And to top it all off, Ryan delivers a commendable act, flawlessly portraying his character Lars from beginning to end. It is no easy feat for an actor to convey a gentle smile on the surface while carrying a deeper sadness within, but Gosling does this so effortlessly.

He truly is a precious talent.

My wife and I went to see this on by birthday, and I was expecting it to be sorta quirky and off beat. I was surprised to find that this was a touching and humorous relationship-driven drama.

As already accounted here, Ryan Gosling gave a performance that many MANY of the popular actors could only DREAM of. He was brilliant, and his portrayal of Lars covered so many emotional dynamics.

However, I am going to write about Paul Schneider, who played Lars' brother, Gus. He was so subtle and funny, so spot on! His side-arc concerning being the older brother in a troubled family. . . just genius.

I would recommend this movie to everyone.

I just can't believe this was such a touching story. Simple and complex at the same time. A movie about family, community and love in all it's aspects.

Almost twenty years after it's release I got to see it, and I'm glad, because I'd probably wouldn't understand it back then.

I'm also amazed by how Ryan Gosling played the role, I've never specifically thought of him as a versatile actor.

Bianca was a real girl and anyone who thinks otherwise need to let themselves grow and believe in kindness. Hopefully I'll have the same smile on my face the next time I watch it and the same good feeling after it ends.

I just saw this movie last night with friends and I'll admit I'd never heard of it. I knew it was worth watching when I was told Ryan Gosling was in it so I was mildly excited to see it. The first thirty minutes of the film are pretty damn funny and to some, almost hilarious. Very well done comedic acting that is real, believable, and still amazing to watch. Part of what makes the first thirty minutes so funny is because we know about the doll, and we can't wait for the first reactions. After that the story takes a wonderfully surprising turn to a really touching light drama. I was very surprised but I really loved it. A lot of people laughed throughout the film, and I was very much bothered by that. There is a reason this man is pretending that a "sex" doll is a real person, and its a very internal serious pain thats hes going through, which for me, understanding that part of the story, I felt it was mildly inappropriate for people to laugh, but I understood with time. Near the end of the film it gets a little predictable for one, some would say major, plot turn, but not so predictable as to ruin it. About 5 to 10 minutes before it happens you see it coming, but other than that it was superbly acted by Ryan Gosling who has nothing but an incredible career in front of him, and good supporting roles as well. This is a very enjoyable film, which I recommend to anyone and everyone. It really seems to have something for everyone, but be prepared it might make you laugh, cry, or both. Its a very very good movie, and definitely worth seeing in theaters.