PHOTO PROVIDED Ryan Gosling, right, stars as Lars, an awkward office worker who purchases a doll for companionship in the 2007 film, “Lars and the Real Girl.”

There are some films that I avoid simply because they don’t interest me. I’ll scroll right past them on Netflix or Xfinity OnDemand. I don’t have a reason, really, I just pass over them.

One of the films that I constantly see is “Lars and the Real Girl,” a 2007 comedy-drama starring Ryan Gosling. I have had no interest in the film. However, with my daughter home from college, I am watching a lot of shows and/or films I normally wouldn’t.

Enter “Lars and the Real Girl.”

Gosling stars as Lars Lindstrom, a painfully shy young man who hates to be touched. By day, he works in an office. At night, he lives alone in a garage owned by his brother Gus (Paul Schneider) and sister-in-law Karin (Emily Mortimer).

Karin constantly tries to interact with Lars, inviting him over for countless meals. But Lars doesn’t want any part of Karin and Gus.

I will say this about Gosling: I’ve never been a huge fan. I always thought he was a pretty boy and an average actor. But in “Lars and the Real Girl,” Gosling isn’t the pretty boy. His clothing looks like it’s his brother’s hand-me-downs, his hair is a constant mess and his mustache and sideburns are a bit uneven. On top of that, he’s extremely awkward.

One day, a co-worker at the office, surfing Internet porn — who does that? — shows Lars a life-size love doll that can be order customized to specifications. A few weeks later, a packing crate is delivered to Lars, and soon his brother and sister-in-law are introduced to the doll. She is, they learn, named Bianca. She is a paraplegic missionary, of Brazilian and Danish blood, and Lars takes her everywhere in a wheelchair. He has an explanation for everything, including why she doesn’t talk or eat.

Crazy, right? Sure it is, but that’s part of the appeal of this quirky story. While most people would have Lars committed, the exact opposite happens. Gus and Karin invite Bianca to stay in their house, where she is tucked into bed every night like clockwork. The townspeople care about Lars so much that they invite her to parties, allow her to “volunteer” at the hospital and even give her a job — as a mannequin, of course!

While all this is completely far-fetched and silly, Gosling makes it work. We genuinely care about him and his mental health, so we are rooting for Lars and Bianca to make it as a couple. I often say that with some films you have to “check your brain at the door,” and this is definitely one of those films.

The filmmakers somehow imply — without quite saying it — that the doll comes with “orifices.” In fact, Karin takes a peek under Bianca’s skirt just to see what is there. However, Lars does not use Bianca for sex. In fact, Bianca is Lars’ ideal companion because she can’t touch him. He takes her everywhere and the townspeople don’t bat an eye.

I didn’t have high hopes for “Lars and the Real Girl,” but I was pleasantly surprised. It’s certainly not an award-winner, but you could spend a couple of hours watching worse. Note: It did garner an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Gosling is engaging from start to finish and he really carries the film, considering his co-star is a sex doll.

“Lars and the Real Girl” is rated PG-13 for adult language and adult themes. You can watch “Lars and the Real Girl” on HBO Max, Spectrum TV, The Roku Channel, Prime Video, Redbox, VUDU and Apple TV.

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Chris Morelli is the news editor of The Express.