A lonely, pathologically shy and socially paralysed 27 year old man orders a life-sized, anatomically correct sex doll from the internet and forms a relationship with her. Does that sound like a story you'd like to spend an evening exploring? If not, you may find that your initial scepticism fades as this well crafted and intelligent film progresses.

Written by regular Six Feet Under contributor Nancy Oliver and directed by Craig Gillespie (Mr. Woodcock), Lars and the Real Girl never veers into the vulgarity or lewdness that such a storyline might lead toward and turns out to be really quite warm-hearted and touching. Ryan Gosling, rightly praised for his show stopping turn as a crack addled teacher in Half Nelson, gives a thoughtful and understated performance as Lars. As the film progresses we learn more about the life that Lars has led and begin to understand why he is so desperately introverted and awkward. The appearance in his workplace of Margo, played with charm and sensitivity by Kelli Garner, seems to elicit unfamiliar feelings within Lars and helps prompt the purchase of "Bianca".

Sister-in-law Karin (Emily Mortimer) has been becoming increasingly concerned for Lars's mental state and his almost total withdrawal from others. She is delighted that things may be changing for the better when Lars explains that he has a friend visiting him and wants to introduce her to his brother Gus (Paul Schneider) and Karin. They are then in very unfamiliar territory when "Bianca" is brought to their house for dinner as Lars's new girlfriend. Paul Schneider plays Lars's older brother with considerable skill, giving his best performance to date. Mortimer too is convincing and involving.

The way the God fearing folk of this unnamed mid-western town become more and more involved in Lars's delusion surrounding "Bianca", leading her to eventually be elected to the board of school governors, could easily be sneered at by the more cynical viewer and the story does flirt with fantastical sentimentality at times. However, does that "flaw" make It's a Wonderful Life a bad film? To my mind, it does not. Like Capra's 1946 classic, the film is only superficially realistic. It's a morality fable and if you can fully accept this, use your imagination and just enjoy the performances you will be rewarded.

There are many great moments in this film. The sequence with Lars dancing on his own at the party to which he has brought Bianca and the empathetic moment shared between Lars and Margo when he performs CPR on her recently executed teddy bear being just two. Well worth 105 minutes of your time.