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The Invention of Lying

  • 2009
  • AL
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
147K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,474
4,244
Rob Lowe, Jennifer Garner, Louis C.K., and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
Trailer for The Invention of Lying
Play trailer2:03
12 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyFantasyRomance

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

  • Directors
    • Ricky Gervais
    • Matthew Robinson
  • Writers
    • Ricky Gervais
    • Matthew Robinson
  • Stars
    • Ricky Gervais
    • Jennifer Garner
    • Jonah Hill
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    147K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,474
    4,244
    • Directors
      • Ricky Gervais
      • Matthew Robinson
    • Writers
      • Ricky Gervais
      • Matthew Robinson
    • Stars
      • Ricky Gervais
      • Jennifer Garner
      • Jonah Hill
    • 426User reviews
    • 195Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos12

    The Invention of Lying: UK Trailer
    Trailer 2:03
    Watch The Invention of Lying: UK Trailer
    The Invention of Lying: "Any Messages?"
    Clip 0:33
    Watch The Invention of Lying: "Any Messages?"
    The Invention Of Lying: I'll Always Be More Successful Than You
    Clip 0:43
    Watch The Invention Of Lying: I'll Always Be More Successful Than You
    The Invention Of Lying: Any Messages
    Clip 0:34
    Watch The Invention Of Lying: Any Messages
    The Invention Of Lying: You're Fired
    Clip 0:55
    Watch The Invention Of Lying: You're Fired
    The Invention Of Lying: It's A Birthday Coupon For Sex
    Clip 1:21
    Watch The Invention Of Lying: It's A Birthday Coupon For Sex
    The Invention Of Lying: Is She Your Sister
    Clip 1:04
    Watch The Invention Of Lying: Is She Your Sister
    The Invention Of Lying: I Want To Ask You Out On Another Date
    Clip 1:05
    Watch The Invention Of Lying: I Want To Ask You Out On Another Date
    The Invention of Lying
    Interview 0:42
    Watch The Invention of Lying
    The Invention of Lying
    Interview 0:55
    Watch The Invention of Lying
    The Invention of Lying
    Interview 0:42
    Watch The Invention of Lying
    The Invention of Lying
    Interview 0:46
    Watch The Invention of Lying

    Photos102

    Jennifer Garner and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Rob Lowe and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Jennifer Garner and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Jennifer Garner in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Fionnula Flanagan and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Jason Bateman, Fionnula Flanagan, and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Ricky Gervais and Jonah Hill in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Rob Lowe, Jennifer Garner, and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Jennifer Garner, Louis C.K., and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Jennifer Garner and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ricky Gervais
    Ricky Gervais
    • Mark Bellison
    Jennifer Garner
    Jennifer Garner
    • Anna McDoogles
    Jonah Hill
    Jonah Hill
    • Frank
    Louis C.K.
    Louis C.K.
    • Greg
    Jeffrey Tambor
    Jeffrey Tambor
    • Anthony
    Fionnula Flanagan
    Fionnula Flanagan
    • Martha Bellison
    Rob Lowe
    Rob Lowe
    • Brad Kessler
    Tina Fey
    Tina Fey
    • Shelley
    Donna Sorbello
    • Anna's Mother
    Stephanie March
    Stephanie March
    • Blonde
    Ruben Santiago-Hudson
    Ruben Santiago-Hudson
    • Landlord
    John Hodgman
    John Hodgman
    • Wedding Overseer
    Nate Corddry
    Nate Corddry
    • News Reporter
    Jimmi Simpson
    Jimmi Simpson
    • Bob
    Martin Starr
    Martin Starr
    • Waiter #1
    Jason Bateman
    Jason Bateman
    • Doctor
    Christopher Guest
    Christopher Guest
    • Nathan Goldfrappe
    Alton Fitzgerald White
    Alton Fitzgerald White
    • Angelo Badsmith
    • Directors
      • Ricky Gervais
      • Matthew Robinson
    • Writers
      • Ricky Gervais
      • Matthew Robinson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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
      John Hodgman, as the "Wedding Overseer" looks to be wearing a crucifix. However, upon close examination, it is actually a likeness of Mark holding the "two pizza boxes", matching the image behind the "Wedding Overseer".
    • Quotes

      Bob: Hi, I'm Bob I'm the spokesperson for the Coca-Cola company. I'm here today to ask you to continue buying coke. Sure, it's a drink you've been drinking for years, and if you still enjoy it, I'd like to remind you to buy it again sometime soon. It's basically just brown sugar water, we haven't changed the ingredients much lately, so there's nothing new I can tell you about that. We changed the can around a little bit, though. See, the colors here are different there, and we added a polar bear so the kids like us. Coke is very high in sugar and like any high calorie soda it can lead to obesity in children and adults who don't sustain a very healthy diet. So that's it, it's coke. It's very famous, everyone knows it. I'm Bob, I work for coke, and I'm asking you to not stop buying coke. That's all. It's a bit sweet. Thank you.

    • Connections
      Edited into Live Free or Die Hard (Project 12, 8/12) (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Beer Rally
      Courtesy of Killer Tracks

    User reviews426

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Good vehicle for (and by) Gervais
    I was pleasantly surprised by this film. From a simple premise as "lying doesn't exist" it develops into a thoughtful tale with a touch of satire. On the one hand it exposes early on the basic first impressions we all have of each other and of situations we find ourselves in. On the other, it touches on the importance of being honest about what we know and especially honest about what we don't know.

    I could examine all the inconsistencies inherent to a concept like this. One would think that without the concept of duplicity, we should be far more advanced than we currently are. One would also think that without lying, there would be no imagination and therefore very few scientific discoveries and advances. The story requires that you don't think about that too much, just to enjoy the script as it moves along.

    Gervais carries the film along as planned, in his quiet, self-effacing way. The humor won't have you rolling on the floor, but the frankness of the casual insights should make anyone snicker with self-awareness at the truth of it all.
    helpful•86
    21
    • delibebek
    • Aug 11, 2010

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    FAQ20

    • How long is The Invention of Lying?Powered by Alexa
    • Is "The Invention of Lying" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 2, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Ricky Gervais - Blog
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • This Side of the Truth
    • Filming locations
      • Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Radar Pictures
      • Media Rights Capital (MRC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $18,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $18,451,251
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,027,472
      • Oct 4, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $32,406,507
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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