MovieChat Forums > Lars and the Real Girl (2007) Discussion > Lots of people here just don't get it!

Lots of people here just don't get it!

posted 12 years ago by PsychoDingo
9 replies | jump to latest

one of the great things about cinema is that a movie exists within its own reality that is separate from the reality in which we live. that cinematic universe can be as similar to, or different from, our universe as the filmmakers want it to be

a movie doesn't need to follow our rules, customs, norms, or best practices to be good. a movie has no call to be believable in the context of human reality here on earth. in order to be believable in cinema, a movie need only establish its universe and remain consistent within the reality it has established

that is the beauty of fiction, and particularly the beauty of fictional cinematic narrative

to all the people complaining that Lars and the Real Girl isn't realistic, I say loosen up, forget about real life, and enjoy the ride, because creating unrealistic worlds for us to visit is one of the greatest things cinema does for us. if you can't appreciate that, stick to documentaries (but not documentaries made by Herzog)

Who cares about stairs? The main thing is ice cream.

[–] acdc363 12 years ago

See the way I look at realism in movies is whether the plot works within the situation with the characters or not. Like if this character was real (like he is in the movie) could this actually happen? For instance in this film I see a mentally ill man who is so frightened by his surroundings and shy and scared of being touched that he secludes himself from any human contact. Would it be outlandish for this man to create a fake girlfriend to keep him company? I don't think so. This man also happens to have a heart of gold and is so caring he wouldn't hurt a fly. So would it be outlandish for an entire small town to do whatever they could to help him get better? I don't think so at all!

[–] jamesflaxman 12 years ago

I just watch this movie, and got it, pure fiction with a real life message to take away. Great to find a movie achieving entertainment and education with thoughts to take way. A viewers life experiences and current situation may be a factor in how they react to this movie.

[–] Uvtha 12 years ago

I don't think its unfair for people to seek truth in things. The premise of this movie simply was not true. It took place in what is clearly the real world that we live in, but no one acted like real people would act.
The message of the film could have still be delivered, and in fact may have been more poignant if the people of the town reacted is a more reasonable and real manner. If it were simply the family playing along with his delusion that would be one thing, but the whole town playing along? It was simply too far fetched to maintain the veil.

I have no problem with fantasy. But the fantasy has to be true within itself. I don't think that this movie was.

[–] PsychoDingo 12 years ago

yes, fantasy should be true within itself, not necessarily true within the context of reality on Earth. that's my point. the movie is consistent within the world it created for itself. whether or not its cinematic world represents the way people behave in the real world is irrelevant

some of the best moments we pass in this life are in the dreams of others

[–] Uvtha 12 years ago

But it was set within the context of reality on earth. Nothing magical was going on, and nothing leads us to believe the setting is anything different than real life.

[–] PsychoDingo 12 years ago

the fact that people don't behave like people do in the real world is a pretty big clue that it isn't set in the context of reality on earth

it would be different if people acted "normally" toward Lars and his doll for half of the movie and then changed suddenly, for no apparent reason

the fact that the people consistently act "abnormally" toward Lars and his doll for the entirety of the movie indicates that the film has established its own cinematic universe, albeit on earth, and that it is true to its universe

some of the best moments we pass in this life are in the dreams of others

[–] PsychoDingo 12 years ago

I would also suggest that in real life here on earth, people don't go around with sex dolls, taking them to dinner with the family and whatnot

therefore, the entire premise of the movie would be utterly preposterous in the context of the real world, thus it would be entirely unreasonable to assume the cinematic universe of Lars and the Real girl is contextually equivalent to reality on earth

unless you're hanging out with some freaky, Real-Doll-dating people that I've never encountered...

some of the best moments we pass in this life are in the dreams of others

[–] lyndadavis7721 12 years ago

I don't believe for a second that something supernatural has to occur for a movie to be considered fantasy! Where is it written that that has to be true?

I was recently forced to watch the latest Fast and Furious movie. Not my kind of movie and it was full of blatantly unrealistic scenes. When they happened I just kind of laughed. I didn't come out of it complaining about how unrealistic it was. To me that would have been a huge duh moment! It's not intended to mimic real life. I can't think of too many movies that actually do.

To me the fact that this community wasn't realistic was the whole point of this movie. What exactly did you think the message of the film was?

[–] gingerpeach0614 12 years ago

I was going to say something similar but you summed it up wonderfully. I kept waiting for this movie to take a typical turn, i.e. having Lars put in a mental hospital or the town shunning him. Instead it was about people coming together and helping someone in need. I wish there were more like it.