The Invention of Lying English Movie
Rated: PG-13
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:Oct 2, 2009 Wide
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Louis C.K., Tina Fey, Christopher Guest, Jeffrey Tambor, John Hodgman, Jonah Hill, Stephen Merchant, Stephanie March
Director: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson
Reviews
From Ricky Gervais, the award-winning creator and star of the original BBC series "The Office" and HBO's "Extras," comes the new romantic comedy "The Invention of Lying."
"The Invention of Lying" takes place in an alternate reality in which lying--even the concept of a lie--does not exist. Everyone--from politicians to advertisers to the man and woman on the street--speaks the truth and nothing but the truth with no thought of the consequences. But when a down-on-his-luck loser named Mark (Gervais) suddenly develops the ability to lie, he finds that dishonesty has its rewards. In a world where every word is assumed to be the absolute truth, Mark easily lies his way to fame and fortune. But lies have a way of spreading, and Mark begins to realize that things are getting a little out of control when some of his tallest tales are being taken as, well, gospel. With the entire world now hanging on his every word, there is only one thing Mark has not been able to lie his way into: the heart of the woman he loves.
"The Invention of Lying" stars Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner ("Juno"), Jonah Hill ("Superbad"), comedian Louis C.K., Jeffrey Tambor (TV's "Arrested Development") and Fionnula Flanagan ("Yes Man"), with Rob Lowe (TV's "Brothers and Sisters") and Tina Fey ("Baby Mama," TV's "30 Rock").
The comedy is written and directed by Ricky Gervais & Matthew Robinson. The film is produced by Lynda Obst ("How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," "Sleepless in Seattle"), Oly Obst, Gervais and Dan Lin ("Terminator Salvation," "Shorts"), Sue Baden-Powell, Ted Field, Paris Kasidokostas Latsis and Terry Dougas serving as executive producers.
The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Tim Suhrstedt ("17 Again"); editor Chris Gill ("28 Weeks Later"); production designer Alexander Hammond ("Flightplan"); costume designer Susie DeSanto ("13 Going on 30"); and composer Tim Atack ("Among Giants").
Set in a world where the concept of lying doesn't exist, a loser changes his lot when he invents lying and uses it to get ahead.
The Invention of Lying stars Ricky Gervais as Mark Bellison, a man who lives in a world where people are incapable of lying. In fact, the word "lie" doesn’t even exist. One day Mark heads on a date with his dream girl Jennifer (Jennifer Garner). Things look bleak from the outset when she tells him that a relationship is unlikely based simply on his looks and his lack of financial security. Sure enough, Mark gets fired from his job and, with only $300 in the bank, is faced with eviction. He heads to the bank to take out his cash to move his belongings out of his apartment, but the bank’s computers are down. Instead he tells them he has $800 in the bank — just enough to pay the rent. Since he couldn’t possibly be lying, the teller forks over the cash and Mark realizes he’s stumbled onto something big. But, what starts out as a little white soon results in Mark telling the biggest lie ever told. Soon, everyone is coming to Mark looking for answers to life’s biggest questions. But all Mark wants is the girl — and she’s the one person he is incapable of lying to.
In the spirit of not lying an all, I’ll say that I really wasn’t a fan of this movie. I think in theory it was a good idea, but the execution of it just didn’t work. The movie was set in a world where lying doesn’t exist — but it felt more like a world where a social filter doesn’t exist. Take for example the opening scene of the movie. Gervais’ Mark Bellison shows up at the apartment of Jennifer (Garner) for a date. He’s early and she answers the door saying she isn’t ready because she was upstairs masturbating. Funny? Yes. An interesting mental image? For sure. Appropriate? Not really. Sure, she’s just telling the truth, but did she really need to say that? She then goes on to say, without really being asked, that she doesn’t think the date will work out because he is short, overweight and probably has no financial prospects. Again, all true, but does she really need to be so blunt about it? I guess that’s what makes the comedy, but I found it more mean-spirited than truthful. And, getting back to the masturbation, did she really need to admit that? I could understand him possibly asking "Were you masturbating?" and her being unable to lie, but to just come flat out and say it is more about lacking a social filter than not being able to lie.
In another scene, Mark shows up at work where his assistant (played by Tina Fey) tells him that she thinks he’s a fat and slobby and probably a homosexual. Is this really necessary? Just because you can’t tell a lie, does that give you the right to be so openly cruel? But also to call him a homo, or whatever the term they used was. Are we being told that if you can’t tell a lie, then it’s okay to refer to somebody in such a derogatory manner? I can’t tell a lie, so it’s okay to make fun of your sexual orientation? And worse, it was played for laughs. I actually found it rather offensive.
And the movie is filled with such inconsistencies. In another example, Mark’s father was sent to jail for breaking into somebody’s house. In a world without lies, would we really need a jail system? How can you not tell a lie, but still make a dishonest living?
Aside from my problems with the story, what else did I think about this movie? Well, I really want to like Ricky Gervais. I really do. But this is a couple of movies now he’s made (the other being last year’s Ghost Town) where I found that his brand of comedy just didn’t translate on the big screen. I like him. I think he’s funny. I just couldn’t relate to the guy or his character. Jennifer Garner was Jennifer Garner. And Rob Lowe (as Mark’s main rival in the movie) was the typical smarmy asshole we’ve come to expect him to play. On the plus side, what really stood out for me were the cameo performances, including the likes of Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jason Bateman and especially Edward Norton. Keep your eyes open for these guys.
I’d like to invent a lie and say that I enjoyed this movie. But I can’t. There were moments that were laugh-out-loud funny, but the laughs are overshadowed by the poorly executed story. And that’s the truth.
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