Lars and the Real Girl

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Lars and the Real Girl

PG-13

2007

1h 47m

Comedy

Drama

Romance

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Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

137 Reviews

84%

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100,000+ Ratings

Extremely shy Lars (Ryan Gosling) finds it impossible to make friends or socialize. His brother (Paul Schneider) and sister-in-law (Emily Mortimer) worry about him, so when he announces that he has a girlfriend he met on the Internet, they are overjoyed. But Lars' new lady is a life-size plastic woman. On the advice of a doctor (Patricia Clarkson), his family and the rest of the community go along with his delusion.

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Critics Consensus

Lars and the Real Girl could've so easily been a one-joke movie. But the talented cast, a great script, and direction never condescends to its character or the audience.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

08/23/2018

Lars and the Real Girl not only wimps out but has also, at its heart, a fake doll that may be the least fake thing in it.

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Liz Hoggard

London Evening Standard

01/11/2018

The film is often very funny. The acting is first-class, especially Gosling, who never patronises his character.

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Helen O'Hara

Empire Magazine

03/20/2008

4/5

A strangely affecting romance with real heart - and another sign that Gosling is one of the best young actors around.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

09/06/2023

3/4

It's a heartfelt film, unexpectedly making us laugh at, yet feel for, the complex, damaged main character and his hopeful real-life romance.

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Gayle Sequeira

BFI

07/29/2023

Lars and the Real Girl is a tragicomic examination of male loneliness.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

07/20/2023

4/5

…plays nicely with questions about how best to deal with delusion…

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Kiami T

@Kiami 4d

It's fairly heartwarming, and what it lacks in profound meaning, it would make up for in feel-good, except it's marred by the attitude towards women of the time. Centring around a literal objectified woman might make it seem like it has something to say about male loneliness and the way women are framed it that, but it falls short by not actually saying anything. Feels a bit like the takeaway is: "People should pair off, or you're not normal, and even though it is sometimes and for a bit, it's generally not okay to be not normal. Differences are only okay if you eventually get over it and fit in." If you close your eyes and ears to that message and just enjoy it for a coming together story, then it has some merit.

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Tim M

@tgmacman Jan 25

Surprisingly tender and affecting, Lars and the Real Girl makes the most out of a versatile screenplay and committed Ryan Gosling.

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James H

Jan 20

Annoying and bogus from the get-go.

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Justin D.

@Movie-Buff101 Dec 30

Lars and the real girl held my attention. Loved it actually. Loved to see how everyone supported him. Loved seeing him come out of his shell. Wished it was more moving but it did tell a great story.

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Mickey B.

@Mickerdoo Dec 26

A town has never been more supportive. I needed some Weekend at Bernie’s bits. But overall funny in that weird indie way.

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Doug A

Oct 22

Really loved this movie. Gosling gives such a great, deep, performance.

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Craig Gillespie

Director

Ryan Gosling

Lars

Paul Schneider

Gus

Emily Mortimer

Karin

Patricia Clarkson

Dagmar

Kelli Garner

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Synopsis

Extremely shy Lars (Ryan Gosling) finds it impossible to make friends or socialize. His brother (Paul Schneider) and sister-in-law (Emily Mortimer) worry about him, so when he announces that he has a girlfriend he met on the Internet, they are overjoyed. But Lars' new lady is a life-size plastic woman. On the advice of a doctor (Patricia Clarkson), his family and the rest of the community go along with his delusion.

Director: Craig Gillespie
Producer: Sarah Aubrey, John Cameron, Sidney Kimmel
Screenwriter: Nancy Oliver
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Sidney Kimmel Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Some Sex-Related Content)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 17, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.9M
Runtime: 1h 47m

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