Good Boys Gone Bland

Gosling's Garden - Barbie (2023)

AT LONG LAST the GBGBs review the final movie in the Ryan Gosling season, Barbie (2023). The BTS for this review was a logistical nightmare but we were glad to wrap up the season on a high note with probably the most iconic movie of this decade. The Gos-man plays Ken, whose job is beach, and he also sings a song in an extended dance-off musical number near the end of the movie. If you haven't seen this movie yet, what are you even doing?

 

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Gosling's Garden - La La Land (2016)

The GBGBs are BACK with an OSCAR WINNING BANGER. That's right folks, get on your dancing shoes because we're reviewing La La Land. It's a movie about singing, dancing, jazz being dead, and HOLLYWOOD. It's also the third (and best) iteration of the Ryan Gosling/Emma Stone onscreen couple. 

 

Also discussed: Musicals as a concept, writing our own musical, and Ryan's personal connection with the plot of this movie. 

 

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Gosling's Garden - Ryan Gosling TV Special

The GBGB's are doing another TV Special, this time reviewing Ryan Gosling's earliest roles from two popular 90s TV shows. Gosling stars in a Goosebumps episode titled, "Say Cheese, and Die!" as well as an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark titled, "The Tale of Station 109.1". The GBGBs are tough critics, but find bits of the RG they know and love in these early appearances. Denali also tests Jace and Ryan's wits as they embark on a 1996 Teen Choice Awards winner-take-all quiz! 

 

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Gosling's Garden - The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)

Everyone was begging and pleading us to do it, and we finally decided to listen to the legions of fans and do it. We reviewed The Place Beyond the Pines, the 2012 crime epic told in 3 parts for two and a half hours. Everyone has undoubtedly seen this movie so no need for a synopsis, but just in case, Ryan Gosling plays a tatted-up badboy dirt bike jumper who robs banks. Then Bradley Cooper comes in and is like, "hey! Stop!! I wanna be the DA!" and then they both have kids and it becomes another movie entirely. We have to hand it to them, they really saved a lot of money filming a sequel into the same movie. 

 

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Gosling's Garden - Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

The GBGBs are back with PEAK GOSLING in Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011). Now some might argue that his character in this movie is not peak Gosling, but there is no doubt that this era marks the dawn of RG's great reign over our screens. Starting with Drive, our friend stars in 3 films in a single year, then goes onto star in a major film every year afterwards. 

But how does the Gos-man measure up in the Rom-Com space? Can he bring his affable comedic chops in a movie where he's largely a proto-manosphere creep? The guy sure looks great in a suit though....

Also discussed: tips for impressing dates, love-tesseracts, and Rochester, NY's number one export. 

Gosling's Garden: The Nice Guys (2016)

The GBGBs return with their latest episode of Gosling's Garden, this time roping in special guest Ali! This time around we review the 2016 Shane Black action-comedy, The Nice Guys! In true Gosling-movie fashion, the film takes place in LA and gives us a nostalgic trip through a bygone era. But this time, Gosling plays a down on his luck private eye who teams up with toughguy Russell Crowe to solve a mystery in 1970s LA. There's goofs, there's gaffes, and there's lotsa laughs. What more could ya want? 

 

The GBGBs also lead special guest Ali through their patented ice-breaker "Would You Rather" Game! No ice was broken. Actually, ice was formed. Who signs off on this stuff?.....

 

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Gosling's Garden - Gangster Squad (2013)

The GBGBs are back with our review of GANGSTER SQUAD (2013). What, you don't remember this movie? C'mon it has Gosling, Emma Stone, Sean Penn, Thanos, The Falcon, Crossbones, Ant-Man's funny friend Luis.... Really?? Well it's about a ragtag team of mavericks who are trying to take down a mob boss in 1940s Los Angeles! It was also critically panned and was a box office flop. Not all of Gosling's movies are winners, but with a hit rate like that guy, we had to go for a stinker this week. 

 

Ryan (our Ryan) also guides us through the arcane art of "remote viewing" a technique used by the CIA to locate UFOs buried under the Denver Airport *citation needed*.

 

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Gosling's Garden - Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

The GBGBs are back in Gosling's Garden to watch the 2007 indie comedy, Lars and the Real Girl! This movie stars our friend the Gosman as Lars, a shy yet kindhearted fellow who lives with his brother (Paul Schneider) and sister-in-law (Emily Mortimer). Things take a turn when Lars begins a romantic relationship with an anatomically correct sex doll named Bianca. Lars's community then decides to go along with his delusion in hopes that he will find the connections that he needs. 

 

This movie was an unexpectedly emotional ride for the GBGBs. No car chases, no song and dance numbers, just some good ole fashion acting in this here film. What? Were you expecting some kind of bit in this description? We don't have to do those every time you know. Sometimes we can just describe the movie we liked okay? Give us a break, and you know what? Give yourself a break too, you're too hard on yourself and you deserve some credit. 

 

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Gosling's Garden - Blade Runner 2049

The GBGBs are continuing their Ryan Gosling marathon with a review of 2017's Blade Runner 2049! This movie is a BLEAK, DYSTOPIAN, THRILL RIDE full of philosophy and sobering discussions about personhood. Ryan Gosling plays a Nexus 8 replicant tasked with "retiring" older replicant models. Everything is fine and dandy until *record scratch* Gosling realizes he just might be the long lost child of a replicant mother, placing him at the center of a paradigm shift between humans and replicants. Who and what decides personhood? Can machines have a soul? Does it matter??

 

Also the GBGBs embark on another ill-advised exploration of audio-only improv. This time complete with monologues and character work. 

 

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Gosling's Garden - The Notebook (2004)

The GBGBs are kicking off Season 10 (?!) with a 10-movie marathon of Ryan Gosling, starting with the ICONIC 2004 film, The Notebook. This steamy romance stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as Noah and Allie, two teenagers who fall in love in 1940s South Carolina. The two are separated when Allie's parents don't approve of their relationship. But years later, on the cusp of Allie's marriage to the very charming James Marsden, Noah returns to their town and THE SPARKS FLY! 

The GBGBs also discuss the name of the season, what defines a Ryan Gosling movie, and try to dial in a Gosling impression. 

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