Star rating: ***
Dir: Craig Gillespie
With: Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider

Ryan Gosling is one actor who could never be accused of taking the easy roles. Oscar nominated two years ago for playing a drug addict teacher in Half Nelson, Lars and the Real Girl finds him getting up close and personal with a sex doll bought over the internet. From crackhead to uber creep, Gosling is hardly asking to be Mr Mainstream.

But as the 12A certificate suggests, there's nothing sordid about this sweet comedy drama. Lars is a painfully awkward twentysomething living in the garage at the home of his brother (Paul Schneider) and pregnant sister-in-law (Emily Mortimer).

Terrified of being touched, and of socialising in general, his anxieties multiply as the birth of the baby approaches. Where some might reach out to others for help, Lars orders a special companion.

Craig Gillespie's film (from a script by Nancy Oliver) immediately removes any hint of sleaze by giving the doll her own room in the main house. Then he wheels in a nice lady doctor - played by the always lovely Patricia Clarkson - to explain that Lars is trying to deal with a trauma from his past. Having been given such permission to care, it's easy to join with the rest of the town and play along with the situation.

There are plenty of good reaction gags as the community meets "Bianca", and lots of wisecracks of the "Does she have a sister?" variety. Gosling then raises his acting game to let us see this might not be such a laughing matter after all.

As a comedy, Lars works. As a drama, it's a trifle too cute. That an entire town would be so accommodating takes the story into make-believe territory, and by the end Gillespie's cup of sentimentality is well and truly running over.