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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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

Aug 23, 2018

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.

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Liz Hoggard

London Evening Standard

Jan 11, 2018

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

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Helen O'Hara

Empire Magazine

Mar 20, 2008

4/5

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

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Sep 6, 2023

3/4

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

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Gayle Sequeira

BFI

Jul 29, 2023

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

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Jul 20, 2023

4/5

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

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Tristan C

@RT75770054 Sep 13, 2026

For me, a quirky insight into how much much our own actions can help other overcome their mental health struggles. A little slow but Ryan Gosling is absolutely fantastic (and Bianca too ;)). Give it time and you'll be holding back the tears by the end.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 7, 2026

Lars and the Real Girl = a *4* star Movie!

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Philip C

@RT02573403 Sep 3, 2026

This is about mental illness and the destructive empathy of women.

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Jacquie B

@RT42907885 Aug 21, 2026

I loved this movie. Beautiful performances and at its heart a powerful message about kindness and community. If only people in the real world could accept and accommodate difference in this way.

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Alex C

@RT43842586 Aug 17, 2026

Surprisingly touching.

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Sharon S

@RT59018641 Aug 17, 2026

This is an extraordinary movie about mental illness, sadness, loneliness, and depression, it’s beautifully done. The acting is superb. It’s a must see.

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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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