The Invention of Lying | Full Movie | Movies Anywhere

Name: The Invention of Lying
Released: 2009-10-2
Cast: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Jeffrey Tambor

The Invention of Lying

PG-13
1h 45m
2009

56%

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Ricky Gervais writes, directs and stars in this inspired conceptual comedy set in a world in which lying -- even the concept of a lie --does not even exist. Everyone -- from politicians to car salesmen -- speaks the truth and nothing but, with no thought of the consequences. But when a down-on-his-luck loser named Mark (Gervais) suddenly develops the ability to lie, he finds that dishonesty has its rewards. In a world where every word is assumed to be the absolute truth, Mark easily lies his way to fame and fortune. But lies have a way of spreading, and Mark begins to realize that things are getting a little out of control when some of his tallest tales are being taken as, well, gospel. With the entire world now hanging on his every word, there is only one thing Mark has not been able to lie his way into: the heart of the woman he loves.

Director:

Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson

Producer:

Lynda Obst, Oliver Obst, Ricky Gervais, Dan Lin, Ted Field, Paris Kasidokostas Latsis, Terry Dougas, Sue Baden-Powell

Writer:

Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson

Cast:

Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Jeffrey Tambor, Fionnula Flanagan, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey

Rotten Tomatoes® Score

TOMATOMETER®

56%

Critics Consensus: It doesn't quite follow through on its promise, and relies too heavily on shopworn romantic comedy tropes, but The Invention of Lying is uncommonly sly and funny.

Reviews

Deep Focus Review

Brian Eggert

[An] instantly original and at times ingenious for purporting moral and social discourse, as through the guise of a typical rom-com it confronts the audience with the very core of their beliefs and behaviors.

The Invention of Lying has some good gags... But the flat direction becomes wearisome and the story runs out of steam before it even reaches a romcom ending that is more sentimental than subversive.

The Invention of Lying, which Gervais wrote, directed, and stars in, is only a comedy for about 20 minutes. The rest is an atheistic treatise mocking anyone who believes there is a God and that He imposed a moral order on the world.

Not funny or surreal enough to distract you from its shortcomings and not subversive enough, if at all, to actually have something to say.

August 30, 2018

FULL REVIEW

Sydney Morning Herald

Giles Hardie

Somewhere between a great concept and an awful script The Invention of Lying got lost in its own truth gimmick. But the truth is, it starts bad and just gets worse.

March 27, 2020

FULL REVIEW