What if everyone told the truth all the time? But – no one knew it was ‘the truth’ because there was no such thing as lying. And what if you were the only one that had the ability, or even knew what it meant, to lie. Think of the power! mwhaha! Think of the stories you could tell! mwhahahaha! That is what director and star Ricky Gervais (The original The Office) brings us in The Invention of Lying. In a world where telling the truth is much funnier than being polite, one man has a new part of his brain begin firing on all cylinders allowing him to be, um, less than honest. And oh the stories he tells!
The start of the movie gives us snapshots of a world where people speak their minds about anything and everything and what life would be life if we all just accepted that was how it is. Awkward blind date introductions are still awkward, but are a lot more fun when you hear what the other person is thinking! Every guy who has married way above his head will identify with the man on the date being told, “she’s way out of your league” and hearing both the guy and girl say at the same time, “I know.” And how great would it be to actually say the truth about how not cute you think that friends baby is instead of be expected to be polite.
What gets all of this going innocently enough is when Gervais’ character, Mark, figures out that he can get some extra money from the bank. Not a lot – just enough to pay his rent. But one thing leads to another, and a Bruce Almighty sequence begins of someone with unlimited power testing it out. And part of what is so funny is just how opposite of that movie this one is. Instead of hearing from God, Mark invents him. I am sure there will be people who will be thoroughly offended by the atheistic message of the movie, but these will be the people Jesus chose not to give a sense of humor to in the first place. In particular, I thought the ten commandments parody was brilliant, and balanced humor with deep pain exceptionally well.
Some of the movie is more crass than I expected, but certainly fit the theme of the subject matter. Sex, media and religion all get treated with the same dose of, ‘oh, I get it’ moments as the act of lying gets explored. This really was a refreshingly clever script brought to life by a great cast. Jennifer Garner plays the shallow love interest, Anna, who is only concerned about finding a good genetic match to make children with. Rob Lowe is the man with the good genes but the off putting confidence in himself. Bit parts by Jonah Hill as a neighbor and Tina Fey leave you wanting more, but are perfect in scope. The movie drags a just a little in the middle of the film, but picks up and finishes well without simply being another romantic comedy.
If you are looking for something that hasn’t been done before, and recognize just how hard that is to find in today’s movie going experience, go see The Invention of Lying this weekend. I’m telling the truth.
Rating: 
