Critic enjoys quiet charm of ‘All the Real Girls’

It’s very easy to dismiss David Gordon Green as a frivolous filmmaker, considering that his two biggest releases, Pineapple Express and Your Highness, fall into the stoner comedy genre.  However, a deeper look into his filmography reveals a different, more nuanced side of his directorial style.  For an example, one need look no further than All the Real Girls.  Released in 2003, it’s a sweet, quiet little movie that packs an unexpected emotional punch.

Paul Schneider stars as “Paul,” a twentysomething layabout and chronic womanizer who lives with his mother in a small Southern town.  When he meets and subsequently falls for his best friend’s sister “Noel” (Zooey Deschanel), however, he finds himself wanting a deeper, more honest relationship than the ones he’s had before.

The screenplay, co-written by Green and Schneider, is a masterpiece, crafted with such finesse that the line between scripted dialogue and improvisation is invisible.  It works beautifully with Green’s direction, which has a rough and utterly naturalistic feel.  He makes us feel as if we’re living the characters’ lives with them, rather than watching them from the outside.

As for the actors, they’re definitely working in a style that suits them.  Schneider is a fascinating screen presence, and his performance is by turns slyly charming and darkly unsettling.  He has an able scene partner in Deschanel, who combines her familiar quirkiness with a sense of profound intelligence, bringing a wonderful sense of depth to her character.  Together, the two are captivating.

All the Real Girls may not be the showiest of movies, but it’s all the better for it, sneaking up on us instead of beating us over the head.  Fans of mumblecore and mainstream film alike will enjoy it.