Monday 24th March

Lars and the Real Girl - (USA)

Director - Craig Gillespie

Cast - Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Shneider...

* * * * *

Lars and the Real Girl is unbearably saccharine to even the sweetest of teeth. It gets so caught up in its own quirkiness that it actually forgets to say anything of any purpose.

This is a shame. Because at its essence, Craig Gillespie has a wonderful concept and potentially a great story to tell. He also has at his disposal a really good young actor in Ryan Gosling, who performs with great charm and depth. Emily Mortimer and Paul Schneider also give great performances as his brother and sister in law respectively. The rest of the supporting cast however, simply blend in to one happy, smiling whole; devoid of any real believability.

This is an American indie of the worst kind. One devoid of substance and merit. Lars and the Real Girl has very little to say on mental illness, relationships, masculinity or the role of woman. This is a film that looks good, but has very little going on between the ears.

Asides from this, there is very little else to say about this lightweight picture. What could have been this years Secretary or Happiness, will merely float away into the periphery.