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 main character's name as it appears on his office door is M. Bellison. This may be a play on the French word embelli'son, which means "someone who beautifies reality or embellishes."

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Goofs

When Greg and Mark are being pulled over by the motorcycle cop, the rearward shot clearly shows that they are on a 4 lane street with buildings on each side, and he stops in the left lane near the center line. But in the remainder of the scene they are stopped in the right lane of a long bridge. Also, the lights on the police motorcycle are still flashing as the officer walks up to confront the driver of the car. Later in the scene, the lights on the motorcycle are not on anymore.

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Quotes

Brad Kessler: Shelley thinks you're an overweight homosexual.
Shelley: I didn't say that!
Mark Bellison: [relieved] Oh.
Shelley: No, I said you were a fat faggot.
Brad Kessler: [to Shelley] I stand corrected.
Mark Bellison: To think I was upset by "overweight homosexual".
Shelley: A fatty fat faggy fag...
Brad Kessler: [to Mark] Oh, well. It doesn't matter. Because either way you're a dumpy little queer.

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Connections

Referenced in An Idiot Abroad: Trans-Siberian Express (2011)

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Soundtracks

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

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.