Movie · 2007 · Comedy, Drama, Romance · 1h 47m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 7.0/10 (484.1K ratings)
The search for true love begins outside the box.
Overview
Extremely shy Lars finds it impossible to make friends or socialize. His brother and sister-in-law 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, his family and the rest of the community go along with his delusion.
Ratings
Curator score: 7.0/10
IMDb: 7.3/10
Letterboxd: 3.82/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
Metacritic: 70
TMDB: 7.2/10
Director
Craig Gillespie
Production
Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Lars Productions
Cast
Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, R.D. Reid, Kelli Garner, Nancy Beatty, Doug Lennox, Joe Bostick, Liz Gordon, Nicky Guadagni, Patricia Clarkson, Karen Robinson, Maxwell McCabe-Lokos, Billy Parrott, Sally Cahill, Angela Vint, Liisa Repo-Martell, Boyd Banks, Darren Hynes, Víctor Gómez
Where to watch
fuboTV, MGM Plus, Philo
Curator Review
Verdict
A tender, offbeat dramedy that turns a bizarre premise into a surprisingly humane story about loneliness, grief, and community care. It’s awkward, funny, and quietly moving, with Ryan Gosling giving one of his most delicate performances.
Best for
viewers who like gentle indie dramedies with emotional payoff
people interested in stories about loneliness, grief, and healing
fans of awkward, compassionate humor
audiences open to unconventional romance premises
Skip if
you want fast pacing or broad comedy
you’re uncomfortable with a premise built around delusion and emotional fragility
you prefer romance stories that are more conventional or physically grounded
Overview
Lars and the Real Girl is one of those rare films that takes a premise that sounds like a joke and treats it with complete emotional sincerity. The result is funny in a painfully awkward way, but its real power comes from how patiently it observes a lonely man and the people around him trying to help without humiliating him.
Worth noting
Ryan Gosling plays Lars with such restraint that the character never feels like a punchline. The film’s comedy is soft-edged and empathetic, and the town’s willingness to meet Lars where he is gives the story an unexpectedly hopeful shape. It’s less about the doll than about the social miracle of being cared for.
Bottom line
The movie can feel a little schematic at times, but its warmth is genuine and its emotional release is earned. If you like indie films that balance embarrassment, sadness, and sweetness, this is a strong watch.
Top Letterboxd reviews
lauren (4★) · 12839 likes
The way his friends and family supported him so passionately and selflessly... I'm crying
siobhan (4★) · 11151 likes
2007 ryan gosling dated a life-size doll so that 2049 ryan gosling could date a hologram
update: 2007 ryan gosling dated a life-size doll so that 2049 ryan gosling could date a hologram so that 2023 ryan gosling could be a ken doll who dates a barbie doll
Jyn (4★) · 9324 likes
that part where lars resuscitates the bear > every scene in any romantic comedy ever
☀️ (4★) · 8119 likes
me in 2016: i hate ryan gosling
me, now: Ryan Thomas Gosling (born November 12, 1980) is a Canadian actor and musician. He began his career as a child star on the Disney Channel's The Mickey Mouse Club (1993–1995) and went on to appear in other family entertainment programs including Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1995) and Goosebumps (1996). His first starring film role was as a Jewish neo-Nazi in The Believer (2001), and ...
Dan (5★) · 7503 likes
[to Bianca, after she is given flowers] Those are nice, huh? And they're not real, so they'll last forever. Isn’t that neat?
2006 · Drama, Comedy, Romance · 1h 53m · PG-13 · Curator 5.7/10 (415.6K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus
A quirky, melancholy comedy about a disconnected man finding meaning through human connection and gentle absurdity.