Gus is horrified, while Karin is a bit more accepting; she believes that anything that will bring Lars put of his shell is a step forward. They take Lars to a doctor and psychologist named Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson) who diagnoses Lars with a delusion. She believes Lars will snap out of it "when he doesn't need it anymore." With no purpose in trying to force him to face reality, the doctor proposes they play along with the fantasy and let Lars work through it on his own time.

The people in Lars' community decide to treat Bianca like a real person. The townspeople have obviously seen Lars struggle for years with depression and social acceptance and want to help him find happiness. Bianca gets a part-time job as a mannequin in the mall and she "reads" to sick kids at the hospital. (The nurses prop her up and turns on an audio book.) Amazingly, the townspeople levy no judgments against Lars and his eccentricities; their only concern is his mental health.

As we watch Lars' many sessions with Dagmar, it is evident that he is a man filled with a lot of pain but a flicker of hope that he will find his way in the world. The sincerity Gosling brings to the role of Lars eliminates the minefield of easy laughs that could emanate from scene after scene of a guy tooling around town with a rubber doll. He demands the viewer give Bianca as much respect as he does.

You'll find yourself surprised and emotionally gratified by this sweet and uplifting story.

The DVD is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. The video is crisp and clear. The DVD carries a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track which supplies clear dialogue and sound effects.

The Lars and the Real Girl DVD contains only a few extras. There is one deleted scene, which contains a written introduction from director Greg Gillepsie. "The Real Story of Lars and the Real Girl" (10:00) is your standard "making of" documentary. It contains interviews with the cast and crew. "A Real Leading Lady" (6:00) examines how Bianca was treated on the set and features some funny interviews with the cast and crew. Apparently, Bianca had her own trailer and everything! The theatrical trailer is also included.