…awkwardly incredible

The film takes place in a small Wisconsin town in the heart of winter and this is where we’re introduced to Lars. Lars technically lives alone. I say this because he lives in his brother Gus’ garage who is married. Lars lives a lonely secluded life of his own and keeps to himself respectively. His brother Gus (Paul Schneider) and wife Karin (Emily Mortimer) often try to get him out of the garage to socialize with the townspeople or even something simple like eating dinner at their house but he often refuses. On occasion, he will agree to eat but dinner at the house but it’s incredibly awkward for everybody. Not many words are uttered at all.

One day at work, Lars (Ryan Gosling) is introduced to this sex doll website by a co-worker and Lars gets the totally wrong impression. Without hesitation, Lars eventually orders this sex doll and it quickly becomes his new girlfriend Bianca. The people around town fully understand Lars’ shyness and awkward tendencies but this seems to be pushing the limit. The townspeople quickly adapt to Lars’ new life partner Bianca, by playing along with Lars and acting like Bianca can speak and do everyday things a human being can.

It’s amazing to watch Lars adapt to Bianca’s way of life. Whenever they go out, Lars puts Bianca in a wheelchair for easy transportation because she clearly can’t walk on her own. Lars is one of the few people who can hear Bianca speak besides the local doctor who plays along with the concept to ensure Lars that everything is okay with Bianca. Bianca adapts with the town very easily by supposedly volunteering at the local hospital and winning a school board election.

Once a week, Bianca is brought in to the doctor’s office for “special tests” while Lars is in the other room being evaluated by Doctor Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson). Dagmar tries a series of light techniques to see what makes Lars do the things he does. Through this whole process, Lars falls hard for Bianca and from a viewing point it’s nice to see that he has found someone or something that makes him happy. We witness Lars and Bianca going through normal couple struggles and everyday situations. It’s nice to see Lars’ lovely side portrayed out in the open, it’s almost as if Bianca is a test to see if he can handle real life love with an actual human being. This is just the case because he eventually becomes interested in fellow co-worker Margo played by the lovely Kelli Garner. There are many heartfelt scenes throughout this movie that I don’t want to get into that deeply so you’ll have to rent it or buy it to see for yourself.

This was an incredible movie and very suitable for the male companion. I highly recommend it.