Movie Notes: The Invention Of Lying
= 3 stars
Starring Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe
Directed by Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson
Synopsis
In a boring world where everyone tells the truth, Mark (Ricky Gervais) invents — and tells — the first lie. Hilarity ensues.
The Good
- Based on the amusing observation that a world filled with honesty would not necessarily be a better place. White lies have their purpose, people would be terribly blunt with crude opinions better left unsaid (Does this dress make me look fat?), and fiction couldn’t exist without made up stories and actors pretend to be someone else. The film industry churns out boring documentaries where readers present things as they really happened. Advertising sucks since pitches can only contain truth.
- The comedy takes a darker tone as Mark realizes that everyone believes his lies as truth and he can easily use this to his advantage. He rips off a casino, cons everyone into a promotion, and moves on to bigger whoppers with dangerous implications. In classic sitcom style, progressively elaborate lies cause more problems.
The Bad
- Doesn’t take the premise far enough. The religious satire peters out just when Mark looks like he’ll declare himself the son of God. Since the film already alienated a huge audience with that pizza box scene, it may as well have gone for the throat. Or barring the religious questioning, more could have been done with the set-up, say the military wants control over his “invention,” someone figures out his facts don’t jibe with the truth, or Mark goes mad with power.
- Mark’s romance with superficial Anna (Garner) is largely unsuccessful. There’s a bit of humor in stock romantic comedy characters speaking honestly, but ultimately it’s hard to swallow Gervais as a romantic lead.
- Too many marginally funny cameos (Jonah Hill, Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Edward Norton [the cop], Phillip Seymour-Hoffman, Jeffrey Tambor, John Hodgman).
Conclusion
Starts out great but ends up “meh.” Wish the whole romantic half was dropped and we got more examples on how a world without lies would suck. First rent Ghost Town, then this one… when it hits video.
IMDB: The Invention Of Lying
Wikipedia: The Invention Of Lying
Rotten Tomatoes: The Invention Of Lying 56%