The movie opens with a tender scene between a man and woman, whohaving an intimate friendship, consummate their infatuation withone another a kiss that starts from palm and ends at the lips.

“All the Real Girls” centers around Paul (PaulSchneider), and his relationship with Noel (Zooey Deschanel) who isthe younger sister of Paul’s best friend, Tip. The story is set inNorth Carolina in a small mill town, and is in fact filmed in thequiet North Carolina town of Marshall. Before Noel, Paul wasa womanizer who bedded almost every eligible female and left in adishonorable fashion.

However, now that Noel has returnedfrom boarding school as an eighteen year old, Paul has decided togive up his old ways and change his attitude toward love when theirfriendship flourishes into more. Things take a turn for the worstfor Paul and Noel and they learn very quickly how vulnerable onecan be when in love. Both turn to friends and family for guidancewho have also experienced the painful scars that being love leavesbehind.

This movie pulls on the emotional energy ofthe audience without causing a flood of tears, leaving audiencemembers contemplating their own mishaps in love on the drive home.Though the film seems to drag on longer than its 108 minutes, it istolerable with its wonderful moments that seem too real.

Director David Gordon Green allows theaudience in on a world that makes them uncomfortable as if they areseeing a private thought or moment that should not be privy tooutsiders’ eyes. It is similar to when Paul forces Noel to turn hisback to him while he dances, to the audiences’ amusement, in amoment of happiness.

At times these moments are too far and fewbetween, especially as the movie is wrapping up, but theanticipation of these moments is the driving force and what keepsits audience grounded in their seats.