Long beforeRyan Goslingbecame Ken, he was Lars. Gosling starred in the 2007 filmLars and the Real Girlas the titular character, an awkward young man involved in a romantic relationship with a life-size doll. Lars is tormented by childhood trauma and suffers from Haphephobia, a fear of touching or of being touched, and delusion. While its worlds away from Barbie Land,Lars and the Real Girlalso includes Gosling romantically pursuing a doll. This similarity led Twitter user@nunosarnadasto create aBarbietribute poster parodyingLars and the Real Girl.
Just like the originalLars and the Real Girlfilm poster, theBarbietribute poster features a pink background and the phrase “The search for true love begins outside the box.” While the original film’s poster features Gosling sitting in a chair and holding yellow flowers, @nunosarnadas' updated version features Margot Robbie, wearing pink, and holding red roses.
In the acclaimed film, Lars shocks his family when he introduces them to his new girlfriend, Bianca, who is actually a life-size doll from an adult website. His brother Gus and his wife Karin, urge Lars to take Bianca for a visit to their family doctor, Dr. Bergman. Dr. Bergman, who is also a psychiatrist, diagnoses the doll with low blood pressure and needing weekly doctor’s visits in an effort to see and treat Lars on a consistent basis. Through the efforts of his well-meaning friends and family and Dr. Bergman, Lars begins to recover. The film also stars Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, Kelli Garner, and Patricia Clarkson, and was written by Nancy Oliver.
With the release ofBarbie, other Twitter users have also referenced Gosling’s first doll movie, with many applauding the actor’s efforts as Lars. WhileLars and the Real Girlgrossed under $12 million dollars worldwide, the film was well-received by critics and audiences.Lars and the Real Girlearned an Academy Award nod for Best Original Screenplay, while Gosling secured nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role.
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Ryan Gosling: Barbie and Beyond
Gosling has amassed praise for his role of Ken in Greta Gerwig’sBarbie,with some speculating that his portrayal will earn an Academy Award nominationfor Best Supporting Actor. The film has been an overall success, currently holding an 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and sitting pretty in first place in both domestic and international box offices for the second weekend in a row.
Up next, Gosling will appear inThe Fall Guy, based on the 1980s tv series of the same name. In the popular series, which aired from 1981 to 1986, Lee Majors portrayed Colt Seavers, a stuntman moonlighting as a bounty hunter. In the Gosling led version, Gosling stars as a stuntman (no ties to bounty hunting) for Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s character, a Hollywood actor who mysteriously disappears. The two have their issues, but Gosling’s character must put them aside to help find the actor. The film, directed by David Leitch, is set for release in 2024.
