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:

Love | Truth | Screenwriter | Lie | Genetics

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

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
Jason Bateman	...	Doctor
Christopher Guest	...	Nathan Goldfrappe
Alton Fitzgerald White	...	Angelo Badsmith
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Jim the Bartender
Edward Norton	...	Cop
Roz Ryan	...	Nurse #1
Michael Patrick Gough	...	Homeless Man
Arnie Burton	...	Waiter at Fancy Restaurant
Ashlie Atkinson	...	Bank Teller
Bobby Moynihan	...	Assistant
Shaun Williamson	...	Richard Bellison
Stephen Merchant	...	Man at the Door
Cole Jensen	...	Short Fat Brian
Conner Rayburn	...	Son
Lisa Paige Robinson	...	Arguing Girlfriend
Matt Stadelmann	...	Arguing Boyfriend (as Matthew Stadelmann)
Jared Voss	...	Person #1 (as Jared Vos)
Jessica Baade	...	Person #2
Elena Wohl	...	Person #3
Matthew Robinson	...	Person #4
Donald Foley	...	Yelling Man
Patrick Shea	...	Man #7
Joe Stapleton	...	Man #8
Dennis Lemoine	...	Young Man
Lance Norris	...	Man #1
Joe Wong	...	Man #2
Colin Knight	...	Man #3
Eric André	...	Man #4 (as Eric Andre)
Gene Amoroso	...	Man #5
Armen Garo	...	Man #6
Dreama Walker	...	Receptionist
Brigid O'Connor	...	Woman #1
Christine Mascott	...	Woman #2
Ellen Colton	...	Woman #3
Layla Hosseini	...	Woman #4
Erica Newhall	...	Woman #5
Nydia Calon	...	Woman #6
Hope Farley	...	Woman #7
Paul Donlon	...	Elderly #1
Mauriel Gould	...	Elderly #2
Mary Klug	...	Elderly #3
Rachel Harker	...	Woman in Business Suit
Brett Cramp	...	Crying Man
Toni Saladna	...	Cocktail Waitress
Guy Strauss	...	Pit Man
Nick Towne	...	Roulette Dealer
Tate Ellington	...	Waiter #2
Luz Alexandra Ramos	...	Chip Woman
Ken Cheeseman	...	Shouting Man
David Pittu	...	Tour Guide
Nada Despotovich	...	Nurse #2
Danielle Perry	...	Hostess in La Bonisera
Joseph Badalucco Jr.	...	Blue Collar Guy (as Joe Badalucco)
Douglass Bowen Flynn	...	Tourist #1 (as Doug Bowen-Flynn)
Celeste Oliva	...	Secretary
Jake Watkins	...	Bully Kid
Valerie Hager	...	Talking Head Woman
Alison Quinn	...	Talking Head Woman
Mitchell Roche	...	Talking Head Man (as Mitchell Roché)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ellen Becker-Gray	...	Woman Flirting with Mark (uncredited)
Shannon Carter	...	Speech Attendee (uncredited)
Desiree April Connolly	...	Flirtatious Woman (uncredited)
Jeffrey Corazzini	...	News Photographer (uncredited)
Diane Curran	...	Apartment Crowd (uncredited)
Susan Farese	...	Nurse #3 (uncredited)
Victor Franko	...	Speech Attendee (uncredited)
Diane Halling	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Patrick Mel Hayes	...	Film Editor (uncredited)
Arissa Hill	...	Extra (uncredited)
Haytham Kandil	...	Driver (uncredited)
Dan Marshall	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Brian O'Hara	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Greg Paul	...	Casino Guest (uncredited)
Sabe Schoeneg	...	Croupier (uncredited)
Vyvian B. Stevens	...	Bank Customer (uncredited)
Marc Vos	...	Church Congregation Member (uncredited)

Directed by
Ricky Gervais
Matthew Robinson

Writing credits (WGA)
Ricky Gervais		(written by) &
Matthew Robinson		(written by)

Produced by
Rachel Abarbanell	....	associate producer
Sue Baden-Powell	....	executive producer
Terry Dougas	....	executive producer
Ted Field	....	executive producer
Ricky Gervais	....	producer
Paris Kasidokostas Latsis	....	executive producer
Dan Lin	....	producer
Lynda Obst	....	producer
Oliver Obst	....	producer (as Oly Obst)
Max Keene	....	associate producer (uncredited)
Modi Wiczyk	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Tim Atack

Cinematography by
Tim Suhrstedt		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Chris Gill

Casting by
Lynn Kressel
Francine Maisler

Production Design by
Alec Hammond		(as Alexander Hammond)

Art Direction by
Priscilla Elliott

Set Decoration by
Kathleen Rosen

Costume Design by
Susie DeSanto

Makeup Department
Deborah La Mia Denaver	....	makeup artist: Jennifer Garner
Maryann Marchetti	....	makeup department head
E. Morrow	....	key makeup artist (as Eve Morrow)
Christine Domaniecki	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Robert Maverick	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Brenda McNally	....	additional hair stylist (uncredited)
Barbara Olvera	....	personal hairdresser: Jennifer Garner (uncredited)
Nichole Pleau	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Aaron F. Quarles	....	hair department head (uncredited)
Sacha Quarles	....	hair department head (uncredited)
Eleanor Sabaduquia	....	makeup artist: Los Angeles (uncredited)

Production Management
Jay Coquillon	....	post-production supervisor
Wendy Cox	....	unit production manager
Steve Harrow	....	post production manager: Steeple Post Production Services Ltd.
Chris Nixon	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matthew Baker	....	second assistant director
Ali Jordan	....	second second assistant director (as Alison Walker)
Max Keene	....	first assistant director (as Adam Maxwell Keene)

Art Department
Brooke Bowden	....	art department staff assistant
Max Bozeman	....	lead person
Justin Brady	....	set dresser
Thomas E. Brown	....	charge scenic artist (as Thomas Brown)
Rachel Burgio	....	art department staff assistant
Stacy Clinger	....	scenic foreman
Jeffrey DeBell	....	key greensperson (as Jeff Debell)
Frankie Dennall	....	set dresser
Jaima Fogg	....	set dresser
Charles Grimm	....	property master
J.M. Hunter	....	art department coordinator
Christopher Kennedy	....	set dresser (as Chris Kennedy)
Eric Matheson	....	construction foreperson
Jill McGraw	....	property assistant
Janine Moore	....	assistant property master
Grant Osborn	....	scenic foreman
Chris Patterson	....	on-set dresser
Paul Peabody	....	construction coordinator
Dan Post	....	set dresser
Aileen Sovronsky	....	buyer
Katie Tower	....	graphic artist
Michael Vojvoda	....	set dressing gangboss (as Mike Vojvoda)
Joshua Barnatt	....	greensman (uncredited)
Stefan Couture	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Janet Kusnick	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Etienne Martine	....	set decorations buyer (uncredited)
Gilbert Plourde	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Eugene Pope	....	construction foreman (uncredited)
Helen Rasmussen	....	draper (uncredited)
John Ryder	....	props (uncredited)
Hugo Santiago	....	set designer (uncredited)
Mimi Watstein	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Peter Wilcox	....	construction location foreman (uncredited)
Jeremy Woodward	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Hugo Adams	....	foley editor
Niv Adiri	....	sound effects editor
Ben Barker	....	sound effects editor
Andrew Caller	....	sound mix technician (as Andy Caller)
Ed Colyer	....	foley mixer
Brian Courchine	....	boom operator
Gillian Dodders	....	supervising dialogue editor
Geoff Foster	....	sound engineer
Danny Freemantle	....	assistant sound editor
Glenn Freemantle	....	sound designer
Glenn Freemantle	....	supervising sound editor
Glen Gathard	....	assistant foley mixer
Lee Herrick	....	dialogue editor
Mark Heslop	....	sound effects editor
Andrea King	....	foley artist
Brendan Nicholson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mike Prestwood Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Sayers	....	sound design editor
David J. Schwartz	....	sound mixer (as David Schwartz)
Peter Stevenson	....	cable person
Jack Stew	....	foley artist
Richard Stockdale	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Richard Street	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Deane	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York (uncredited)
Kevin Jette	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Brent Lestage	....	sound: EPK (uncredited)
Jan Petrov	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Brian Seagrave	....	audio post-conform (uncredited)
Lionel Strutt	....	adr coordinator (uncredited)
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Yves De Bono	....	special effects supervisor
Jonn Herzberger	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Ray Chang	....	digital compositor: Gradient Effects
Shane Cook	....	compositing supervisor: Gradient FX
Jay Frankenberger	....	compositor: Gradient FX
Dylan Highsmith	....	visual effects editor: Gradient FX
Kelley Ray	....	digital effects supervisor: Gradient FX
Anita Razzano	....	flame artist: Gradient FX
Thomas Tannenberger	....	visual effects supervisor: Gradient FX
Cameron Thomas	....	lead compositor: Gradient FX
Shane Christopher Wicklund	....	compositor: Gradient FX (as Shane Wicklund)
Louie Alexander	....	digital compositor: Framestore (uncredited)
Matthew Baker	....	retouch and restoration: Framestore (uncredited)
Zachary Bloom	....	scanning and recording: Framestore (uncredited)
Jerome Dewhurst	....	di engineer (uncredited)
Richard Edwards	....	digital intermediate data operator: Framestore (uncredited)
Bob Froehlig	....	lead systems engineer: Gradient FX (uncredited)
Andrew Harvey	....	retouch and restoration: Framestore (uncredited)
Adam Hawkes	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Karsten Hecker	....	film mastering engineer (uncredited)
Thomas Kernan	....	lead modeler: Gradient FX (uncredited)
Ji Young 'Gina' Kim	....	digital artist (uncredited)
James Long	....	digital intermediate data operator (uncredited)
Kevin Lowery	....	high definition engineer (uncredited)
Veronica Marcano	....	scanning & recording operator: Framestore (uncredited)
Edwin Metternich	....	digital intermediate retouch (uncredited)
Andrea Paolino	....	character technical director (uncredited)
Adam Parker	....	retouch and restoration: Framestore (uncredited)
James Polk	....	character effects/fur (uncredited)
James Reed	....	scanning and recording (uncredited)
Rick Sander	....	cg supervisor: Gradient FX (uncredited)
Jimmy Saul	....	scanning and recording manager (uncredited)
Prasanna Siddharthan	....	digital compositor: Gradient FX (uncredited)
Anthony Smith	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Olcun Tan	....	digital effects supervisor (uncredited)
Thomas Urbye	....	preview colourist: The Look (uncredited)

Stunts
Haytham Kandil	....	action driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ian T. Barbella	....	utility camera (as Ian Barbella)
Matt Bardocz	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Rick Beausoleil	....	video assist
Clint Borden	....	best boy grip
Theda Cunningham	....	first assistant camera (as Theda Streetman)
John S. DeSimone	....	chief rigging electrician (as John S. DeSimmone)
Don Duffield	....	dolly grip
Patrick D. Fields	....	dolly grip (as Patrick Fields)
Paul Goodstein	....	first company grip
Jeffrey Greeley	....	camera operator (as Jeff Greeley)
Lawrence Karman	....	camera operator
Lawrence Karman	....	steadicam operator
Branden James Maxham	....	rigging electric best boy (as Branden Maxham)
Paul McIlvaine	....	chief lighting technician (as Paul McLivaine)
Billy Merrell	....	best boy rigging grip (as Bill Merrill)
David L. Merrill	....	first company rigging grip (as David Merrill)
Michelle Pizanis	....	second assistant camera
Derek Smith	....	second assistant camera
Sam Urdank	....	still photographer
Thomas Young	....	second assistant camera
Kevin Carlisle	....	grip (uncredited)
Frank DeAngelis	....	video assist (uncredited)
Josh Denering	....	grip (uncredited)
Michael Dynice	....	generator operator: base camp (uncredited)
Joseph Giroux	....	electrician (uncredited)
David Hallas	....	electrician (uncredited)
David Hallas	....	generator operator (uncredited)
Stephen Kaye	....	electrician (uncredited)
JD Leedham	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Matthew Merola	....	grip (uncredited)
John J. Moers	....	director of photography: documentary crew (uncredited)
Georgia Pantazopoulos	....	grip (uncredited)
Paul Pryor	....	key film loader (uncredited)
Carl A. Vidnic	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Lauren Grey	....	casting associate: LA
Kevin Kuffa	....	casting associate: NYC
Marisa Kushner	....	extras casting
Carolyn Pickman	....	local casting
Matt Bouldry	....	casting assistant (uncredited)
Peter Dudgeon	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marisa Aboitiz	....	costume supervisor
Claire Bergkamp	....	set costumer
Maria Bradley	....	costumer: Jennifer Garner
Jamelle Flowers	....	key set costumer
Susan Kistler	....	key costumer
Maggie Ronck	....	additional costumer
Deborah Lynn Scott	....	costume consultant (as Deborah Scott)
Tim Baum	....	assistant tailor (uncredited)
Laurie Buehler	....	seamstress (uncredited)
Rosa J. Colón	....	additional set costumer (uncredited)
Andrew Poleszak	....	head tailor (uncredited)
Michelle Wickland	....	wardrobe mistress: UK only (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Tom Foligno	....	assistant editor (as Thomas Folligno)
Alec Gibson	....	grader
Emanuele Giraldo	....	assistant editor
Adam Inglis	....	colorist
Gavin Round	....	digital intermediate producer
James Van Patten	....	apprentice editor
John Claude	....	digital intermediate colorist (uncredited)
Steve Harrow	....	post-production consultant (uncredited)
Élodie Ichter	....	digital intermediate editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Michael Connell	....	music editor
Matt Dunkley	....	conductor
Matt Dunkley	....	orchestrator
Dana Millman	....	music supervisor (as Dana DuFine)
Steve Oberman	....	associate music supervisor
Tim Atack	....	musician: piano (uncredited)
Chris Clad	....	violin (uncredited)
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
James C. Donahue	....	transportation coordinator (as James Donahue)
Ernie Panarti	....	picture car coordinator (as Ernie Panariti)
Mario Presterone	....	transportation captain
Henry Bautista	....	transportation captain: additional photography (uncredited)
Teresa Haney	....	transportation coordinator (uncredited)
David Kenney	....	transportation (uncredited)
Tony Ruiz	....	transportation coordinator: additional photography (uncredited)

Other crew
Natalia Anderson	....	assistant: Ms. Baden-Powell
Natalie Angel	....	production coordinator (as Natalie S. Angel)
Julian Barnett	....	location assistant
Stacey Bishop	....	location assistant
Mana Butt	....	office staff assistant
Christine Colburn	....	office staff intern
Matt Curtis	....	title design: main and end title
Roger Dillingham Jr.	....	medic (as Roger Dillingham)
Minnie Duerr	....	first assistant accountant
Michael F. Dunn	....	craft service (as Michael Dunn)
Louise Green	....	assistant accountant: post production
Courtney Keefe	....	set production assistant
C. Killian	....	production secretary
Tiffany Noel Kinder	....	location manager (as Tiffany Kinder)
Tatiana Komlos	....	assistant production coordinator (as Tatiana K. Post)
Susan Loshin	....	office staff assistant (as Suz Loshin)
Alison Heathwood McCormack	....	assistant location manager (as Alison McCormack)
Emily Millard	....	assistant: Ms. Garner
Susan Murphy	....	second assistant accountant
Kerry O'Brien	....	set production assistant
Scott Peterson	....	script supervisor
Hannah Pillemer	....	assistant: Ms. Obst
Jillian Roache	....	location assistant
John Sargent	....	production facilities provided by: UK
Lara Sargent	....	post production accountant
Claire Severance	....	set production assistant
Jane Shapiro	....	assistant: Mr. Robinson
Peter J. Silbermann	....	unit publicist
Kristina Soderquist	....	production accountant
Ryan Sweeney	....	set production assistant
Kal Thompson	....	set production assistant
Seanne Wehrenfennig	....	assistant: Dan Lin (as Seanne Winslow Wehrenfennig)
Kirstie White	....	assistant accountant: post production
Guy Wood	....	assistant: Mr. Gervais
Jennifer Bydwell	....	product placement (uncredited)
Mercedes Maria Daigle	....	casting assistant (uncredited)
Robert Foulkes	....	location manager: additional photography (uncredited)
Philippe Gallichet	....	chef (uncredited)
Stephen Gilchrist	....	production executive (uncredited)
Eric Gurian	....	assistant: Tina Fey (uncredited)
Julie Hansen	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Elton Hartney James	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Chris Judd	....	floor runner: additional photography (uncredited)
David LaCarubba	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Thomas Linay	....	assistant: director: post production (uncredited)
Faleshia Lo	....	post production accountant (uncredited)
Dan Marshall	....	stand-in (uncredited)
John Passarini	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Michael Rich	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Nicholas Rich	....	set medic (uncredited)
Karen Scarborough	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)
Rob Spence	....	additional production coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. (presents) (A Lynda Obst Production)
• Radar Pictures (in association with)
• Media Rights Capital (in association with)
• 1821 Pictures
• Lin Pictures (uncredited)
• Lynda Obst Productions (uncredited)
• Wintergreen Productions (uncredited)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. (2009) (USA) (theatrical) (a Time Warner Company)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2010) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2010) (France) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2009) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment (2009) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Film1 (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (Greece) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2010) (Argentina) (all media)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2010) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2010) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Gradient Effects (visual effects by) (as Gradient FX)

Other Companies

• AP  title design: main and end titles
• Air Lyndhurst Studios  music recorded at (as Air Studios, London)
• Central Casting  extras casting (uncredited)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies (uncredited)
• Cinema Catering  catering
• City of Lowell, Massachusetts, The  the producers wish to thank
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts  the producers wish to thank (as The Commonwealth of Massachusetts)
• Eisner & Frank  production legal (uncredited)
• Framestore  digital intermediate by
• Gallagher Entertainment  insurance (uncredited)
• HireWorks  Lightworks equipment provided by (uncredited)
• Intelligent Media  international monitoring agency
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Kaye Lites  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• Kodak  motion picture film
• LCW Props  set equipment (uncredited)
• Lenox  select dinnerwear
• London Session Orchestra, The  orchestra (uncredited)
• Look, The  post-production facilities (uncredited)
• Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Quabbin Section  the producers wish to thank (as Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation)
• Mayflower Studios  ADR recording studio (uncredited)
• On Tour Productions  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• Paramount Transportation Services  transportation services (uncredited)
• Pinewood Studios Group, The  sound re-recording (uncredited)
• Pinewood Studios  re-recorded at
• Professional Negative Cutting  negative management (as Professional Negative Cutting Ltd.)
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals (uncredited)
• Rockbottom Rentals  junxion box rentals (uncredited)
• Rockbottom Rentals  walkie rentals (uncredited)
• Sound 24  sound design by
• Soundtrack  adr facility (uncredited)
• Star Waggons  cast trailers (uncredited)
• Steeple Post Production Services  post production management (as Steeple Post Production Services Ltd.)
• Studio Grips  grip services (uncredited)
• Transportation Resources  transportation equipment (uncredited)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

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 | Argentina:13 | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:6 | Sweden:11 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Warner Bros.

Trivia:

Director, writer and actor Ricky Gervais sponsored an online Photoshop contest related to the movie theme by asking contestants to edit known movie posters as if those posters were usually lying to the audience.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When the policeman pulls Greg out of the car, you can see that the car is equipped with automatic seat belts, and at no point can you see that the lap belt is buckled. Therefore Greg could be easily pulled out of the car as the shoulder belt retracts, which is shown when the door opens.

Quotes:

Anna McDoogles:[with an epiphany] I've finally decided what I want!
Mark Bellison:[expecting the worst] And what is that?
Anna McDoogles:I want short fat kids with snub noses!
[Mark smiles; they kiss]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert: Episode dated 3 October 2009" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Beer Rally

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.