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?

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Plot Keywords:

homosexual | truth | lie | screenwriter | heaven | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

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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 film was released theatrically in France with its original title, but by the time it was released on DVD, this was changed to "Mytho-Man!", which is a play on words, the French word "mythomane" meaning "pathological liar".

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Goofs

During Anna's first date with Mark, as she's talking with her mother on her cell phone, her phone jumps from her left to right hand and then back again.

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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 Bellison: I'm your man.
[Mark smiles; they kiss]

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Connections

Referenced in Life's Too Short: Episode #1.6 (2011)

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Soundtracks

Dreamer
(1974) (uncredited)
Written by Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson
Performed by Supertramp

User Reviews

Charmingly Clever

Brilliant concept and terrific execution. Wonderful casting.

Ricky Gervais and Jennifer Garner are absolutely believable throughout their respective characters' evolution, and they play off each other very well. In fact, everyone's performance is spot on. And the cinematography beautifully plays up (or down, rather) the fictional world which is the story's setting.

If you're hoping for non-stop one-liners and ridiculousness throughout, this is not your film. While this film's cheeky, pointed story is loaded with wit - including some side-splitting scenes (I cried with laughter watching Ricky Gervais' character face questions from a credulous crowd) - it has a real and rather serious plot. There is a point to this fiction, indeed.