The Invention of Lying

Plot

The film is set in an alternate reality in which no one has ever lied and where people speak their minds, blurting out very blunt remarks and opinions that people in the real world would normally keep to themselves. However, one man develops the ability to lie and discovers the power it wields.

Cast

• Ricky Gervais as Mark Bellison
• Jennifer Garner as Anna McDoogles
• Rob Lowe as Brad Kessler
• Louis C.K. as Greg Kleinschmidt
• Jonah Hill as Frank Fawcett
• Christopher Guest as Nathan Goldfrappe
• Tina Fey as Shelley Bailey
• Jason Bateman as Doctor (cameo)
• Stephen Merchant as Home Owner (cameo)
• Philip Seymour Hoffman as Jim The Bartender (cameo)
• Edward Norton as Traffic Cop (cameo)

Review

Funny movie! Imagine a world where exaggeration, religion and ideas of the after life and other forms of fiction (yes, i did just call religion fiction, but stick with me here) are no possible because no one can ever tell a lie. Now imagine another world where this was true but everyone also absolutely had to say what was on their mind, all the time...this is the world where The Invention of Lying resides.

This world is depends on two ideas: not being able to lie and everyone else not every considering you could be wrong. This means that whatever Ricky says, people believe. It's almost like their feelings change if he says so (i.e. "You're not sad." "Oh, you're right. I'm not. Oh well.").

In order to really drive home the idea that no one can lie, Ricky Gervais has created a world where everyone tells the truth not matter what at all times. They have no mental filter and are forced to say every blunt thought no matter how inappropriate. However, everything else about this movie rocks. Also for some reason, mating is purely based upon genetics which infers that love is entirely a lie. You can marry and mate for reasons other than love (i.e. money) with no thought about genetics. Not that I did, I'm just saying. If my wife is reading this, I love you honey and I love your genetics.

I especially got a kick out of the retirement home being called "A Sad Place for Hopeless Old People" where the nurses hold a daily death pool. There is not pretension of such a facility being a "retirement castle" or people movie there to live for 20-30 years. I also got a kick out of their idea of God, or "The Man in the Sky", and churches being a "quiet place to contemplate the Man in the Sky". Best lines in the movie: "Man in the Sky forbid!" and "I say, fuck the Man in the Sky!".

Watch for a couple that is always at the same cafe (at the same time everyday) and a women that consistently comes to work to never go in for the entire span of the movie.

In conclusion, good movie! Watch it!

Rating

4 Reels out of 5