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Kelli Garner as Margo

For example, Reverend Bock still uses the King James Bible ("I spake as a child," etc.); and when Gus and Karin ask the board whether Lars can bring Bianca to church, one grumpy member objects not because Bianca is a pornographic object, albeit one that is dressed in modest clothing, but because she is a "golden calf"! This prompts an amusing reply from one of the other board members—Lars isn't worshipping the graven image, only dating her—whose efforts to bend the letter of the law to the spirit of the law ring a little truer.

Not that the movie is trying to be realistic, of course. In its own strange, eccentric way, it is more of a parable, and the less time you spend dwelling on its implausibilities, the better. But it works, largely because the actors all find just the right, believable tone. Schneider is amusing as a man who cares for his brother but can never finish his sentences; Mortimer brings the same heartfelt sincerity to her role that she brought to the similarly contrived but deeply affecting Dear Frankie; Clarkson strikes a note of compassionate intelligence; and Gosling hints strongly at the complexity churning within an outwardly simple man.

In its own way, the film encourages us to look beyond the surface when we are dealing with people—even when those people are made of silicone—and if you can look past the movie's naughty-sounding premise, Lars and the Real Girl just might be one of the more heart-warming and redemptive experiences you'll have at the theatre this year.

Talk About It

1. How does the imagination help us deal with reality? How does it distract us from reality? How can we know the difference? What if, as in Lars's case, we don't seem to be able to distinguish between what is real and what is imaginary? Can it still help us?
2. What "childish things" do you still cling to? How have you been able to put the "childish things" in your life away? How have others helped you to do this?
3. What does this film say about the importance of community? About relating to people as something "other" than us? What does it say about the importance of family?
4. Lars always speaks for Bianca. How is this similar to, or different from, people claiming to speak for God? How do we know when we are not simply projecting things onto God? What role do the Bible, the experiences of other Christians, and so forth have? (Note how the pastor asks, "What would Jesus do?" What resources can we use to answer this question?)

The Family Corner

Lars and the Real Girl is rated PG-13 for some sex-related content, which consists mostly of a few scenes in which people discretely discuss an anatomically correct doll. The doll remains clothed throughout the film, except for a scene where Gus and Karin give it a bath, and even then, we see nothing below the shoulders. Church is a central part of Lars's life, though other characters take the names of God and Christ in vain a few times.

Photos © Copyright Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

© Peter T. Chattaway subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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