LARS AND THE REAL GIRL (4.5 STARS)

Lars and the real girl is about a guy named Lars who is weird and doesn't talk to people much, and then one day he has a new girl friend and he's suddenly quite talkative. His new girlfriend is an anatomically correct sex doll handicapped orphan missionary nurse from Brazil. The movie is much about how Lars' family and friends react to his new hottie girlfriend and him growing up a little and finding out what it means to be a man.

I really loved this film. I saw it the first time by sneaking into the theater after seeing Into The Wild. It was a really good day. I love the way it's shot. I love the place it's shot. The colors. There's a lot of thought that went into everything, like the clothes and the things in the house... the choices of wordings. You can really pull a lot out of it.

It was written by a first time film writer. She had been writing for TV for years but had never written a screenplay. This was her first attempt. I would think she's a genius going by this film... but I've heard a few interviews now... and i really don't like her. I can still like her movie though.

The key to this film (and also JUNO but we'll get into that next week) is the acting and the subtle directing choices, which has a lot to do with editing. About every moment in the film is very subtle and you're watching every facial movement. Humans are very keen on body language. Very hyper sensitive to it. It's a fine line directors have to walk along.

This film is good for most. It's not mainstream but it's only a tiny stretch for a mainstream only movie goer. It's a bazaar situation, but the reactions by the characters are so real and true to what anyone else would do in that position.

Don't go into it thinking it's a laugh out loud comedy (You may however laugh out loud at times). It's more of a bazaar plot that you can find the humor in.