The Invention of Lying (2009)

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

1 nomination.

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
Nate Corddry	...	News Reporter
Jimmi Simpson	...	Bob
Martin Starr	...	Waiter #1

Storyline

It's a world where everyone tells the truth - and just about anything they're thinking. Mark Bellison is a screenwriter, about to be fired. He's short and chunky with a flat nose - a genetic setup that means he won't get to first base with Anna, the woman he loves. At a bank, on the spur of the moment he blurts out a fib, with eye-popping results. Then, when his mother's on her deathbed, frightened of the eternal void awaiting her, Mark invents fiction. The hospital staff overhear his description of Heaven, believe every word, and tell others. Soon Mark is a prophet, his first inventive screenplay makes him rich, and he's basically a good guy. But will that be enough for Anna?

---

Plot Keywords:

homosexual | truth | lie | screenwriter | heaven | 

---

Taglines:

In a world where everyone can only tell the truth,.....he's just invented the lie!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Ricky Gervais - Blog

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 October 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

This Side of the Truth

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,027,472, 4 October 2009, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$18,439,082, 13 December 2009

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.,Radar Pictures,Media Rights Capital (MRC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The screenplay for this film was featured in the 2007 Blacklist; a list of the "most liked" unmade scripts of the year.

---

Goofs

The establishing shot for the motel where Mark brings the Blonde (Stephanie March) shows a one-story building with red doors, but when he leaves, the door is black and numbered "222".

---

Quotes

Anna McDoogles: You're smart. You're kind. You're the sweetest man I've ever met. You are... You are definitely the most-interesting person I know. And you are fun to be with. And you see the world in a way that nobody else sees the world, and I like the way you see the world. You're my best friend. You make me happier than anyone I've ever known. And I love you.

---

Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: The Book of Eli/The Spy Next Door/Fish Tank (2010)

---

Soundtracks

Catch the Wind
(1965)
Written by Donovan (as Donovan Leitch)
Performed by Donovan
Courtesy of Sanctuary Records Group Ltd.
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Barrel of Laughs, No Really

I thought this movie was fantastic, The truth is that people at their core are to that extent superficial and "rude" to put it lightly. This movie revolves around how the world would word if absolutely everything you thought to say but suppressed out of courtesy instead came flying off your tongue without a thought. To put it bluntly I think this movie was being far too kind compared to what would really happen if a world like this actually existed, but on top of that the actors in it played perfectly. It had just the right mix of comedy and drama to make it a success.

Ten out of ten, I recommend you don't miss this one.