Today’s quick review: The Invention of Lying. In a world where lying does not exist, Mark Bellison (Ricky Gervais) remakes his life by learning how to say things that aren’t true. Taking advantage of the gullible people around him, Mark parlays his new talent into a successful career, even going so far as to found his own religion. But no matter how successful he becomes, Mark still cannot win over Anna (Jennifer Garner), the woman of his dreams.
The Invention of Lying is a comedy with romantic elements starring Ricky Gervais. The movie satirizes modern society by stripping away its pleasant untruths, revealing the petty thoughts and shallow motives that people lie about on a daily basis. The Invention of Lying gets double mileage out of its premise. Not only is Mark’s world innately funny, but it also lets the movie comment on human nature and the role of fiction in society.
First and foremost, The Invention of Lying is a comedy. Without the capacity for deception, the inhabitants of Mark’s world wear their hearts on their sleeves, bluntly commenting on their true motives, other people’s looks, and anything else that comes to mind. This type of social interaction is an endless source of humor for the movie. It also fits nicely with Ricky Gervais style of humor, which plays off awkward social situations.
But beyond this, The Invention of Lying has some insightful reflections on how dependent humanity is on lies, from the white lies of daily conversation to the larger questions about the hereafter. Not everything the movie has to say is even-handed or accurate, but it does have a knack for capturing the foibles of human nature. Moreover, the actors step up their game for a few key, emotionally laden scenes, giving the material unexpected heart.
Give The Invention of Lying a shot when you are in the mood for a social comedy that makes good on an interesting premise. Creative humor, a plot that takes full advantage of Mark’s newfound power, and a couple of heartfelt scenes make The Invention of Lying an enjoyable and thought-provoking film. Steer clear if you dislike Ricky Gervais, are sensitive to awkward situations, or are looking for a more serious style of societal speculation.
For another Ricky Gervais comedy with a different premise but similar themes, try Ghost Town. For another comedy about a man given godlike power, try Bruce Almighty. For a more ridiculous satire of religion, try The Life of Brian.
[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1058017/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for successful use of a unique premise.