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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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

137 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

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

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.

Aug 23, 2018

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Liz Hoggard

London Evening Standard

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

Jan 11, 2018

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Helen O'Hara

Empire Magazine

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

Rated: 4/5

Mar 20, 2008

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

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

Rated: 3/4

Sep 6, 2023

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Gayle Sequeira

BFI

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

Jul 29, 2023

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

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

Rated: 4/5

Jul 20, 2023

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Doug A

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/22/25

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Wayne K

One of those fantastic little-known gems that get overlooked at the time but grace many an underrated films list in the years after release, Lars & The Real Girl is a quirky and affecting comedy drama that hits so hard because it takes the time to develop its character and never goes for cheap ands easy emotional shortcuts. There were so many things the film could have done that might get a big reaction at the time but would render it trite and predictable. It’s a story that demonstrates the power and influence of the community spirit, and how it takes a village to raise a child, just like it takes one to bring a lonely soul out of the doldrums. Ryan Gosling is a great to choice to play the lead, not just because he has incredible range as an actor, but because it serves to demonstrate that, just because you’re good looking, that doesn’t mean you’ll have the world at your feet. There’s a real authenticity to way the characters talk, behave and even dress. No one is trying to look glam or flashy to stand out, they’re real people who live real lives, and when the emotional moments hit, they land all the harder because they feel both real and earned. If Her is a love story for the digital age, the Lars & The Real Girl is a love story for the age which immediately preceded it, and one I would highly recommend you check out when you get the chance.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/01/25

Full Review

Los G

Very watchable and at times very funny and very moving, but it tries to have it all ways - raising lots of issues that it then fails to follow through (or drops in order to shape a fairly obvious ending).

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/12/25

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Nicola F

This was so wonderfully done, a really different exploration of loneliness, childhood trauma and fear of abandonment. It’s so much deeper than a s*x doll comedy. Surprised how much I enjoyed it. Acting is superb.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/12/25

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Josh T

Super wholesome and heartwarming.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/11/25

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Rhyan D

A kind and lovely film. Ryan Gosling is truly one of the greatest actors of this generation!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/11/25

Full Review

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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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