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IMDbPro

The Invention of Lying

  • 20092009
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
141K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,895
25
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
6 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.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
141K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,895
25
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Directors
      • Ricky Gervais
      • Matthew Robinson
    • Writers
      • Ricky Gervais
      • Matthew Robinson
    • Stars
      • Ricky Gervais
      • Jennifer Garner
      • Jonah Hill
    Top credits
    • Directors
      • Ricky Gervais
      • Matthew Robinson
    • Writers
      • Ricky Gervais
      • Matthew Robinson
    • Stars
      • Ricky Gervais
      • Jennifer Garner
      • Jonah Hill
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 423User reviews
    • 194Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos6

    The Invention of Lying: UK Trailer
    Trailer 2:03
    The Invention of Lying: UK Trailer
    The Invention of Lying: "Any Messages?"
    Clip 0:33
    The Invention of Lying: "Any Messages?"
    The Invention of Lying
    Interview 0:42
    The Invention of Lying
    The Invention of Lying
    Interview 0:55
    The Invention of Lying
    The Invention of Lying
    Interview 0:42
    The Invention of Lying
    The Invention of Lying
    Interview 0:46
    The Invention of Lying

    Photos100

    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

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    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 reviews423

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    constantly funny it may not be, but clever it is
    There is a certain re-training of the mind that a film expects of us in order to fully enjoy the place it seeks to take us. This film, in the first act we are taught, in a rather funny way that the world of this film is to say the least - honest. Everyone coldly delivers, whether asked or not - exactly what is on their mind. It takes a good 1/4 of the film to fully understand exactly the world where there is no opposite to truth. And those moments are worth the price of admission alone.

    As a viewer I enjoyed the random interactions that a world where truth is embedded in the framework of all social interaction. With no deviation.

    By the time Gervais comes across the knowledge that an alternate way of communication exists in "saying what wasn't" we embark on a tale of a man who essentially won the "lying Lottery".

    The humour is subtle, the contrast of religious themes are not so, and that may have been the weakest of elements in the film. Sadly those who think there is a single element of disrespect towards religion from within the world of the film are I believe incorrect. While religious digs may have been the impetus for the films creation, from within the film, Mark's character seems to make a clear delineation between an evil lie and a white lie. And his character never seems comfortable for too long with a lie that affects the lives of many.

    The film does have a one of the more sweet and quietly powerful scenes where Mark creates an alternate afterlife for his mother. Because I don't view this film through a filter of religious expectation I found this scene to be simply powerful and poignant.

    I enjoyed it, as did my partner. We talked the whole way home, and recreated some of the laughs on the way to the car. That is not a lie.
    helpful•303
    81
    • marc_dambrosio
    • Oct 4, 2009

    FAQ2

    • 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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