Review

Really, this film shouldn't work at all. I have built-in defenses for quirky, independent romantic comedies with unbelievable storylines and relentlessly sweet characters. My BS detector, in fact, was registering off the charts when I read the synopsis. But an expertly written screenplay by Nancy Oliver (who previously achieved a similar balance on her "Six Feet Under" scripts), well-paced direction by Craig Gillespie, and incredibly winning performances by the cast had me sold. I want to live in this town, in this movie, even if everyone there is batshit crazy.

Ryan Gosling plays Lars, the psychotically reclusive town misfit who, when not at his mundane desk job, lives in his brother's garage. His sister-in-law (Emily Mortimer) tries to coax him out, and the new girl in town (Kelli Garner) has a thing for him, but to no avail... Lars will have to figure things out on his own. Which he does, by purchasing a sex doll, naming her "Bianca," and parading her around town as his girlfriend.

The town psychologist (Patricia Clarkson), who is also apparently the only doctor around, tells everyone to go along with the ruse, and Lars becomes more outgoing than ever. He's a good Christian, and they sleep in separate beds, but soon Bianca becomes almost too well-liked (she's even elected to the school board). Garner is possibly the cutest thing on the face of the earth, and Gosling is the second-cutest thing, so of course we all root for Lars to come to his senses, and his personal journey is deeply satisfying and oddly believable.

Of course you're probably rolling your eyes at all this, and honestly I can't explain why it works so well. There's definitely something in the sincerity of the performances, especially the always-impressive Gosling, and the healthy skepticism of the surrounding characters helps to keep things from getting too saccharine. The enthusiasm is contagious, and the dialogue is sharp enough that you won't hate yourself afterward. If nothing else, you'll never look at a sex doll the same way again.

 -- David Gorgos