Review of Lars and the Real Girl

Despite superb acting by Ryan Gosling, and a unique, somewhat compelling premise, I had trouble fully enjoying this film. The audience is immersed in a believable, non-descript small town of the north, of some recent, non-specific time. Computer monitors are still huge in this town, and everyone knows everyone else. The characters, though, prevented my full immerssion in this film. A tug-at-your-heartstring, yet unbelievable, crush, and unlikely support of Lars throughout the community is fun, but unrealistic. Mostly though, I struggled with reconciling attempts at humor surrounding mental illness with the attempts at genuine support by the characters of a mentally ill man.