Published: April 24, 2008 05:03 pm            

Masterful touch buoys ‘Lars’

As I sat down to watch “Lars and the Real Girl,” I had one prevailing thought:

Can I really make it through another “Painfully introverted man whose mother died at childbirth and father was a closed-off recluse who internalizes all of his feelings about his losses until they finally manifest in delusions in which he is having a serious relationship with a silicon love doll” film?

After all, this genre is now a dime a dozen. But with “Lars” — recently released on DVD — what could have been played as hokey or ridiculous is handled with a masterful touch by all those involved to create a quiet little film that resonates.

Ryan Gosling, who has shown flashes of brilliance in such films as “Half Nelson” and “The Believer,” subtly portrays Lars — the said introvert who has guilt over his mother’s death, relationship issues with his late father and is now facing the prospect of his sister-in-law’s upcoming baby. Lars’ guilt and fear cause him to close off to all who try to reach him, eventually bringing him to the point of what some would call a breakdown. This is when Bianca enters the picture. A missionary who loves kids and is handicapped, Bianca also happens to be a love doll that he ordered off the Internet.

Gosling helps to cement his status as one of the great young actors. He keeps his performance understated, avoiding the traps that less mature actors might have fallen into. His love for Bianca seems genuine, and his progression and ultimately his breakthrough are touching to watch. Delusional characters can be played so over the top that it is refreshing to see such a humble take on the role.

The film takes an unbelievable premise and creates a believable reality. The town, shocked at first, grows to accept and even love Bianca because Lars loves her, too. It is telling that the moment when Bianca must leave, the town rallies around to support Lars and to help him let go.

This fine little film is full of understated but genuinely good performances. Emily Mortimer and Paul Schneider, as Lars’ sister-in-law and brother, portray a couple dealing with their own uncertainty while caring enough for a confused young man that they not only go along with the idea of Bianca, but accept her into the family. Kellie Garner is Margo, the co-worker who desperately wants to gain Lars’ trust and interest. She remains loyal to Lars and defends him, waiting to help him back to reality.

One of the best performances, however, is that of Patricia Clarkson as Dr. Dagmar, the doctor/therapist who treats both Bianca and Lars. Her widowed character relates to the hurting Lars and helps him to overcome the pain, both real and imagined, of letting someone get close.

Nancy Oliver’s Academy Award-nominated screenplay keeps the ridiculousness reined in and instead creates a believable man with believable pain. What could have been played for laughs is instead played for emotion, and it is effective. Director Craig Gillespie handles the material with a deft touch, not allowing the idea to devolve into the tawdry. In the wrong hands, this story could have gone from a little jewel to the next “American Pie” sequel.

This film slipped through in its initial release, not flashy enough to compete with the big Hollywood movies. Now that it is on DVD, this is one worth catching up to — a gem that shouldn’t remain hidden.

And if you don’t have anyone to watch it with, I’m sure Lars could point you in the right direction.



Benji Tunnell writes for The Joplin (Mo.) Globe.

        

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