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The Invention of Lying
The Invention of Lying
Actors: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Rob Lowe
Directors: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson
PG-13     2010     1hr 39min

MARK BILLISON IS A VERY UNSUCCESSFUL SCREENWRITER WITH LITTLE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. IN THIS COMEDY, SET IN A WORLD WHERE NO ONE HAS EVER LIED, FILM ENTERTAINMENT CONSISTS OF READINGS OF HISTORICAL FACTS. MARK, HOPING FOR SO...  more »
     
     

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Movie Details

Actors: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Rob Lowe
Directors: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson
Studio: Warner Home Video
Format: DVD - Color,Widescreen - Dubbed,Subtitled
DVD Release Date: 01/19/2010
Theatrical Release Date: 09/25/2009
Release Year: 2010
Run Time: 1hr 39min
Screens: Color,Widescreen
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 8
Members Wishing: 0
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Languages: English
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

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Member Movie Reviews

Sharon F. (Shar) from AVON PARK, FL
Reviewed on 6/20/2022...
OMG, I loved this movie. Don't you wish that you knew what everyone was thinking? How much easier dating and buying a car would be!!! This movie shows you exactly how that world would be. Funny and entertaining.
Kathleen P. from OAKLAND, CA
Reviewed on 3/2/2015...
Quirky fluff. I thought it was really fun. I liked it.
Deborah A. from SARASOTA, FL
Reviewed on 12/31/2011...
This rom-com was very clever and inventive. A piece of fluff, but quite enjoyable. Humor was intelligent, and not dumbed down. Good escapist film, but gave you something to think about too. What if we did live in a world where no one could lie? Think of the possibilities!!
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Gina & Dan S. (ginaps) from CLEVELAND HTS, OH
Reviewed on 5/24/2011...
We absolutely loved this movie! We found it by accident one night on a movie channel, having never heard of it. We have since gotten the DVD here on swap because we kept wanting to watch it. It's a charming movie with a very interesting premise.
2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Movie Reviews

Truly spectacular--but in an odd sense
Dusty White | Currently working on a new book somewhere | 11/01/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This film plays out like a British reality TV show. It just feels a bit off, but bear with it. That is part of its charm. Around 37 minutes into it (if memory serves), "WHAM!", it follows true reality and goes completely off script. That's all I can tell you. But here's why you really need to see this movie:

It's pure genius. The whole of it has a rather laid back feel, and the pacing is more a nice leisurely stroll through the park on a warm Autumn day than a Jason Bourne movie or the latest Transformers (both of which I enjoyed, but have nothing more to do with this review). This film draws you in slowly. For some of you it may seem a bit dry and boring, even pedantic at first--stay with it! This is the evolution of personal existence. This is real life as it happens. We go through our days performing our daily rituals and fulfilling our self-imposed duties and then we see something shiny and we pick it up, and suddenly the world starts to find color. This shiny new thing could be a relationship, or a new hobby, a passion for something we did not believe we could have before--or in this case--lying.

The point of this film is (naturally) to entertain us, but just underneath is a series of layered messages and thoughts to ponder on our own lives and the society we live in. In much the same way foreign films tend to attract a certain demographic, this film, feeling a lot like a film foreign to Americans (in pace and structure) is meant to attract people who want to THINK while they are being entertained, rather than wait for glimpses of Megan Fox in a wet bikini (and who doesn't want to do that?). This is truly a film worth owning, and it is a film worth watching a few times (spaced apart by a few months). It gets under your skin and stays with you--and it will without a doubt upset more than a few knee-jerk religionists, but that is the other half of the fun.

The movie is interesting, enjoyable and slow-paced enough to simultaneously allow the slow-to-catch-on to get the joke, but also allow those a bit faster on the up-take to digest the meaning of the joke while enjoying the film. Not at all a first date movie, but if you want to evaluate the relationship quality of your current romantic prospect, this is a MUST SEE. Much like Blazing Saddles, this movie will instantly tell you whether youa re dating the right person for you.

As always, thanks for reading :-)"
Beautiful!
birdthing | Trenton, NJ USA | 02/20/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I loved this movie. It's sweet, and funny and really quite brilliant. It is about an imaginary world where no one can lie (and no one has ever been able to lie), and what happens to the very human, but kind-hearted man who first becomes able to. Though his intentions are mostly altruistic (remember, I also said he is very human, so he also does things to benefit himself), he inadvertently causes some big problems in his world. It's all very funny and sweet.

Yes, there are some strong references to the idea that religion is completely made-up, for the purpose of comforting people and calming their fears of death. For someone who can actually *think* about religion, instead of being a knee-jerk reactionary or dogmatic follower, it provides some terrific things to think about.

If your religious faith is so frail that it cannot stand the idea of a fictional story in which someone makes up religion in order to make the world a better place for the people they care about, then I'd have to say that you don't have much in the way of actual faith to begin with."
A Terrific, Intelligent Comedy
Joshua Miller | Coeur d'Alene,ID | 01/07/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson co-write and co-direct The Invention of Lying, a film I honestly did not expect to like. I'm familiar with Gervais and have heard great things about him, but somehow his TV shows and movies have eluded me. The Invention of Lying is my introduction to him and it makes for great entertainment.

Gervais plays Mark Bellison, who lives in alternate reality where the human race has not adapted the ability to lie. It's hard to deny this is an interesting idea and the opening scenes of the film are quite funny. Mark works as a screenwriter at a film studio, where films consist of a man on screen reading a script based on an event in history. Writing a story requires a certain amount of lying, after all. On the verge of getting fired and rejected by the girl of his dreams (Jennifer Garner) because he's overweight; Mark sees his life in a downward spiral. On the eve of being evicted from his apartment, Mark tells the world's first lie and with his newfound ability a way to improve his life in every aspect.

The film has an eclectic cast including Jonah Hill (as Mark's suicidal neighbor), Jeffrey Tambor, Rob Lowe (as an esteemed screenwriter), and Tina Fey. Furthermore, there are two very funny cameos by Phillip Seymour Hoffman (as a bartender) and Edward Norton (as a cop).

The entire alternate reality is a marvelous idea and Gervais keeps it from growing old within minutes. The Coke/Pepsi gags, as well as the brutally honest business names are consistently amusing.

Obviously, The Invention of Lying is built on a gimmick. In the hands of lesser writers, this gimmick could have run out of steam very quickly, yet Gervais keeps the wit, social commentary (involving religion), and energy consistent throughout. The Invention of Lying is a strong comedy film that had me laughing very hard, but also had me thinking. If the film didn't descend into predictability towards the end (while still retaining its charm), I would say it's one of my favorite films of 2009. Alas, Gervais has fashioned a comedy that is smart, underrated, and very well-done...Definitely worth your time.

GRADE: B+"