Ryan Gosling stars in this movie about a late 20s guy with a major shy complex who orders a life size doll (not blow up doll) to serve as a companion and a security blanket to deal with a girl who likes him at work and a sister-in-law who is pregnant. The family and town get behind him and act like the doll is real to allow him to sift through his emotions to deal with this time in his life.

Does that sound awkward? It is. In fact, this movie made me feel uncomfortable, which means it must be a pretty good movie. I felt like I was part of the town dealing with this nice awkward guy, not wanting to judge him for what he is doing; using a doll as a girlfriend. Gosling does a very good job in selling this character as warm and needy, yet with a few screws loose.

The writer does a good job putting the doll in several unusual situations all the way to putting her in an ambulance after Gosling’s character thinks she needs emergency surgery. There is no way this could happen in real life which could turn off some viewers, but if you get past the unlikeliest of the situation, just like a typical action movie, then you will be rewarded with a truly unique film.

This is much more a drama than a comedy, as if you feel like you want to laugh, you wonder if you should. There are comedies out there that have dealt with mannequins or dead bodies in comedic ways, but this movie is aiming for your heart and it does a good job to see the character transform from needing his security blanket to living a real life.

Lars is a nice guy, everyone needs to give him a chance and a lot of love, and as they don’t give up, and he finally accepts it, the town, the character, the viewer see what real life can and should be.

Similar recommended titles: Mannequin, Weekend at Bernie’s