The Invention of Lying (2009)

Directors:

Ricky Gervais
Matthew Robinson

Writers (WGA):

Ricky Gervais (written by) &
Matthew Robinson (written by)

Release Date:

2 October 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

In a world where everyone can only tell the truth... ...this guy can lie.

Plot:

A comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain.

Plot Keywords:

Bank | Fiction | Truth | Screenwriter | Writer

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Ricky Gervais	...	Mark Bellison
Jennifer Garner	...	Anna McDoogles
Jonah Hill	...	Frank
Louis C.K.	...	Greg
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Anthony
Fionnula Flanagan	...	Martha Bellison
Rob Lowe	...	Brad Kessler
Tina Fey	...	Shelley
Donna Sorbello	...	Anna's Mother
Stephanie March	...	Blonde
Ruben Santiago-Hudson	...	Landlord
John Hodgman	...	Wedding Overseer
Nathan Corddry	...	News Reporter (as Nate Corddry)
Jimmi Simpson	...	Bob
Martin Starr	...	Waiter #1

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language including some sexual material and a drug reference.

Runtime:

99 min | Canada:99 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #45305) | UK:12A | Ireland:15A | Australia:M | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:AL | Malaysia:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Radar Pictures

Trivia:

When trying to secure Philip Seymour Hoffman for his cameo his agent claimed he was too busy so Ricky Gervais requested his email address and sent him the following: "Dear Philip, will you please appear in my new film? There is very little money involved as I spent the budget on testicular implants, but don't look upon them as my testicles, look at them as our testicles." Phillip Seymour Hoffman couldn't refuse after that.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mark exits his car when the mob is formed around his house; his seat belt automatically moves up the side of the car, but in the next shot he exits the car without trouble and his seat belt is in the original down position as it would be when he is driving.

Quotes:

Richard Bellison:[surprised by the homeowner during a burglary] What are you doing here? It's Monday at noon. You're not supposed to be home now!
Man at the Door:If you must know, I'm incredibly stressed at work, I've come home early, I'm having a bit of me-time. More importantly, what are you doing?
Richard Bellison:Well, I was gonna rob your house.
Man at the Door:I don't like that idea. Not a fan of that at all.
Richard Bellison:I'm not gonna do it now, because you're in.
Man at the Door:Do you know what's gonna happen? I'm gonna call the police, you're gonna be arrested.
Richard Bellison:Well, I'm just gonna leave, and you don't know my name.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2010) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Do Anything You Wanna Do

Clever Concept That Never Fully Materializes

In a world where everyone must tell the truth, one man after being fired and almost evicted is pushed to the limits. His brain does something abnormal, he tells a lie. Not just any lie, the world's first lie. Since no one in this universe has ever heard a lie before, they take it as fact. Now this man has the world at his feet.

It is a clever concept, a clever and more massive spin on Liar Liar, yet that might not be such a good thing. The premise of this film is funny, but it becomes too much of itself and is tiresome after a while. The joke goes on and on, he tells lies, people believe him. In one scene a lie gets him in too deep to dig himself back up and that's where the conflict in this film comes in. Yet one can ask themselves a simple question, why not just lie his way out of it, instead of digging deeper holes.

Gervais is at the lead again, after his feel good comedy Ghost Town, which people decided to skip. This time around he's also behind the camera, yet nothing technical about this film pops out, it plays out like an average comedy, relying on it's one concept. The one concept gets some laughs here and there, but there are never any really laugh out loud moments.

The film has some emotional scenes, that influence the rest of the film. The comedy kind of takes a second step to the theme of religion. Some people may find this irritating. Jennifer Garner plays the romantic lead, who finds Gervais fat and with a stubby nose, not a good match genetically for a marriage and children. Yet they form a friendship, one in which Gervais hopes will blossom into something more. Does it? Well, how do romantic comedies usually work out? Here the outcome doesn't seem too believable. Things happens and people react without really knowing why, this leaves little for character arc.

How do people live in a world with no lies? Well, when you want to watch a film, you go to the theatre. In that theatre you'll see a guy sitting in a chair reciting history. Since, movies are mostly fiction, no one can make one, cause it would be a lie. See where this film goes? A retirement home becomes "A place where old people go to die", so on and so on.

The film does have some really funny cameos. It's mostly the usual comedy round, but there is at least one in which I was so caught off guard that I just couldn't help but laugh. Look out for a cop. Jonah Hill and Louis C.K. play two supporting character, neither are funny.

The film is funny, but not enough to warrant a theatre viewing. This has rental written all over it. It simply cannot stand on it's concept for too long, because it becomes a bit dull. If it were a short, I could enjoy it more.