Then She Found Me and Lars and the Real Girl (DVD)

Looking for something a little low key, films that don’t feature highly respected independent film stars going to the bank playing superheroes?

THEN SHE FOUND ME

Helen Hunt comes unadorned into this film, abandoning Hollywood glamour for her role as 39 year old April Epner, an elementary schoolteacher in the midst of several life crises: her husband left, her mother died, and she is childless with a loudly ticking biological clock. Popular theme this season, but unlike Baby Mama there is precious little humor in Then She Found Me. These characters worry a lot, there are many close ups of concerned faces, and lots of betrayals. Bette Midler brings some energy and levity to the story in her turn as April’s birth mother, and the film brightens up considerably whenever she is on screen. Colin Firth is a pleasure in his usual role as the steadfast lover in waiting, but here he also gets to show anger, frustration and actual cynicism. Makes you think that there might be more to Firth than the Darcy roles allow. Didn’t sense much chemistry between Colin and Helen (oddly, she had more with Jack Nicholson) but never mind, he’s still Colin Firth. Helen Hunt’s directing debut, this was a labor of love for her, and while it seems a little flat at times, it is a worthy effort.


Also out on DVD:

LARS AND THE REAL GIRL

A painfully shy, withdrawn young man (Lars) shows up on his brother Gus' doorstep one day with a life size blow up doll that he introduces as his new girlfriend, "Bianca." Assuming his brother has lost his mind, Gus and his wife consult a doctor, who suggests they play along with Lars' delusion. "You won't be able to change his mind, anyway," she tells them.

The movie is set in a remote rural town, and the heart of the story is in how the community sets about accepting Lars' new friend, so he can work through whatever inner demons led him to bring Bianca around in the first place. It's charming and quirky and absurd and funny, and for those of you who are thinking "chick flick' well, there's bowling in this movie, and some funny office cubicle politics reminiscent of a certain Thursday night sit-com.

Starring Ryan Gosling as Lars; he was nominated for an Oscar last year for Half Nelson, and he got a lot of buzz for this performance as well. Patricia Clarkson is wonderful as the doctor. Rated PG-13, but I would say better for older teens, since Bianca is, after all, a giant sex toy, although that doesn't come up much in the film.