Dvd
The Invention of Lying
This romantic comedy takes place in an alternate reality in which the concept of lying does not even exist. Everyone speaks the truth and nothing but the truth with no thought of the consequences.
But when a down-on-his-luck schmuck named Mark (The Office's Ricky Gervais, also co-director) suddenly develops the ability to lie, he finds that dishonesty has its rewards and he 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 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 (Jennifer Garner).
Starring Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Christopher Guest, Patrick Stewart, Tina Fey, Rob Lowe
Directed by Ricky Gervais (feature debut), Matthew Robinson (feature debut)
Written by Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson
Comedy | 1hr 45mins | Rated (M) | contains sexual references | Origin: USA | Official Site »
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Flicks review
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2
If you think that a world without lying wouldn’t be much fun, Ricky Gervais proves you right with his disappointing directorial debut.
As a massive fan of The Office and Extras (I re-watched Season 2 all in one sitting a few weeks back), plus Gervais’ stand-up material, it’s quite amazing to think that such a mediocre film could come from a man of such a quality track record.
The conceit about a world that has never lied wears thin and pushes the bounds of believability too far. On top of that, uninspired camerawork and flat lighting combines with intentionally plain art direction to give this a made-for-TV look.
Recycling his usual shtick about fat men with snub noses (again, see the Bowie episode of Extras), Gervais pairs his own aesthetically challenged character against Jennifer Garner’s Anna. He truthfully calls her the sweetest person he knows, yet the audience will see her as shallow and dim-witted. Seems her only attribute is her looks, something that goes against the intended message of beauty being on the inside. The rest of the movie plays out like those phony moralistic endings on South Park, except in this case the earnestness is groan inducing. I was bored stiff.
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3 reviews
Press Reviews
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Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
In its amiable, quiet, PG-13 way, The Invention of Lying is a remarkably radical comedy.
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Empire Magazine (UK)
1
Proof that when you aim for the stars, sometimes you find a black hole. Hopefully just an anomaly for the usually wonderful Gervais.
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Hollywood Reporter
Gervais and Robinson take what might have been a cute concept comedy and elevate it to delicious heights.
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New York Times
While the movie is a conceptual pip filled with quotable laughs and gentle pokes at religious faith at its most literal, it also looks so shoddy that you yearn for the camerawork, lighting and polish of his shows.
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NZ Herald (Francesca Rudkin)
4
An uneven effort, but better than your average romantic comedy.
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Rolling Stone (USA)
For its first stingingly funny half hour, The Invention of Lying had me thinking that Ricky Gervais had finally found a way to bring his indisputable brilliance at TV comedy (The Office, Extras) to the big screen. Then the air went out of the balloon. What a shame.
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Total Film (UK)
3
Wittier than your average romcom, with a conceit that’ll have you dreaming up your own comedic reality checks. A treat for fans – but torture for those who have tired of Gervais’ naked ambition.
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Variety (USA)
While it never tops the explosive hilarity of its first 20 minutes, The Invention of Lying is a smartly written, nicely layered comedy that, like last year's underappreciated "Ghost Town," casts Ricky Gervais as a mild-mannered schlub who manages, in spite of himself, to make the world a better place.
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