LARS AND THE REAL GIRL: Film

I had heard this was a pretty good film but, as usual, because it sounded so silly, I ignored it until my sister in law, Elaine, recommended it and almost forced me to take it out of the Smith Library. I am glad she did. At first, I was a bit bored, as the movie begins slowly, with Lars living in a shed, just next to his parents house, where his brother is now living with his pregnant wife. We are not quite sure why he is so quiet, such a recluse socially, though he does work, a bit corny, at what seems to be a technology company, though I am not sure. He literally refuses to have anything to do with his sister in law, preferring to be alone. It's only after a colleague shows him a website where you can buy an anatomically life size doll of a woman. Lars seems to ignore this but the next thing we know, a package has arrived at his home. This is where the movie begins, as Lars takes the doll, and treats her as if she is real. Clearly, it upsets his family, who think he is going crazy. After taking him and his girl, to the doctor, an empathetic and patient doctor/psychologist, they are reluctantly convinced that to Lars, she IS real, a trick perhaps of his brain or his emotional make up. Slowly the family adjusts, reluctantly treat her as real, and we see the town, too, perhaps too easily, take her in after an initial horror. Gradually, we see everyone rally around, the hairdresser, the dress shop, the church, and the friends in the office. Lars even takes her to a party, where everyone seems to know about Lars and his girl, and they treat them as if she is normal. The doctor was smart enough to have Lars come back each week, and gradually she realizes that much of what he projects on his girl really offers a door into his own psychology and problems. Clearly, he is autistic, at least we learn this, and no one has diagnosed it, nor is it mentioned in the film. He begins to fear for her after she refuses his proposal, and she quickly goes downhill. Neighbors come over and sit with him, as she slowly dies. The funeral is attended by most of the town, and a fellow office mate, a girl of course, who he slowly has begun to notice and even court(subtly), walks off with him at the cemetery and the movie ends, with the audience assuming he is now ready to fit into the real world, at least we hope he is. The movie is slow to get into but if you are patient, like the town, we begin to buy into the movie, the illusion, and are touched by the goodness of the family, the town, and all who know him. His sadness and mourning for his girl is real, heartfelt, I suppose, and we too mourn his passing. Ryan Gosling, who plays Lars, is wonderful, as is his girl friend. She, especially, is endearing, not beautiful but attractive in a different way. It ultimately is a feel good movie, and we are emotionally drained by the end of the movie and, like Lars, we miss his girl.