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# REVIEW BY KEN TARR NEWRELEASES ‘Lars and the Real Girl’ is no joke
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/r-e-v-i-e-w-b-y-k-e-n-t-a-r-r-newreleases-lars-and-the-real-girl-is-no-joke/
- Published: 2007-10-26T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T03:39:55.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Entertainment, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By KEN TARR is a student at Santa Monica College, an actor and writer and is also taller than 99 percent of the population. He can be reached telepathically or at trutoulouse@yahoo.com.*

Anytime the most lovable character in a film is an anatomically correct blow-up doll, you’re dealing with a strange flick. “Lars and the Real Girl” is not a gross-out, low-brow comedy. It is actually not a comedy. Ryan Gosling plays a businessman who is so lonely and hung up on his childhood that this doll becomes his salvation and delusion once it arrives in its disturbing crate. He imagines her as a real person, Bianca from Brazil, a retired missionary, orphaned at youth and crippled by an unknown disease. He passionately speaks to her, hard-sells his story to people and takes her everywhere. The town, which should have been called Niceville, USA, never gives him a hard time about his doll and begin to embrace Bianca as one of their own. The laughs come from uncomfortable reactions to the doll’s unintentional movements or the townspeople awkwardly relating to Bianca.

This film is being recommended by Christian groups and indie-film buffs alike for its non-judgmental tone. Christian groups feel it shows acceptance and unconditional love. The indie fans like it for this, but also the very bizarre visual situations that occur. To spoil the film, Lars never consummates his relationship with Bianca. Lars is not that kind of guy. The town loves him and prior to Bianca’s arrival they are scared for his happiness. His delusion proves they can make Lars into an upstanding citizen yet and it is entirely unclear what Lars learns, except that real love can be found.

Much of this film drags and does not work. But, it does have a strong moral message and abundant cleverness. Gosling’s performance may be the best of his brief career. He talks to the doll, plays a frighteningly nice loner and a jealous man all with very under-stated, controlled grace. I think most actors would avoid such material but he seems entirely at home here. Nominated last year for the overrated “Half-Nelson,” hopefully Gosling will at least receive some attention for this Jimmy Stewart-ish performance. The film avoids overly emotional scenes a little too much.

Emily Mortimer and Paul Schneider are very good as Lars’s concerned relatives. The scenes between the two of them are particularly strong as they struggle with a pregnancy and a delusional relative. Also, Patricia Clarkson succeeds in pulling off a role that is probably not very realistic. She plays a doctor that convinces everyone to embrace Lars’s problem and welcome Bianca. Most doctors would pass Lars off with a psychological evaluation, but her character really cares and is actually very alone as well. Clarkson is a great actress and the rare scenes with Gosling are alone worth recommending the film.

Written by “Six Feet Under” occasional episode writer Nancy Oliver, the film works when dealing with uncomfortable material. Very few characters seem realistic and that helps this film to be more of a morality tale than a realistic portrayal of a man obsessed with a blow-up doll. I am sure lesser filmmakers may try to take advantage of this concept with a gross-out comedy. In fact, mark my words. Craig Gillespie, the director, purposely does not push the envelope or insert any innuendo or further complications to this story than Oliver intended. This is a very well-made film with excellent acting. No one should avoid this film based on its storyline, because it is really not about the blow-up doll. Although Bianca is a beautiful and a great actress in her own right.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/102607-14_01.jpg)

HOLY SMOKES! (Photo: Photo courtesy George Kraychyk)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 26, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/102607.pdf?ref=smdp.com)