Movie: The Invention of Lying (2009)
Genre: Comedy, Romance
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Written & Directed By: Ricky Gervais & Matthew Robinson
From Netflix:
In a land where no one fibs, fiction doesn't exist and movies consist of actors simply reading historical facts, unsuccessful screenwriter Mark (Ricky Gervais) gains fame and fortune -- and maybe the girl of his dreams (Jennifer Garner) -- by saying things that aren't true. Gervais and Matthew Robinson co-write and co-direct this mayhem-filled comedy that co-stars Rob Lowe. Look for cameos by Tina Fey, Jonah Hill and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Browsing through the current movie releases, nothing stood out for the past few weeks. There are movies out now that I do want to see. Only, on DVD. I can think of a few movies that have yet to come out that I will definitely be catching in the theater later this year. I just have to be patient. Anyhow, when Florinda from The 3 R's Blog recommended The Invention of Lying, Anjin and I decided to take her up on seeing it.
Comedy is not my favorite movie genre. My husband jokes that I have no sense of humor. My sense of humor is just, well, different. And I really have to be in the mood to enjoy comedy. I must have been in the mood this weekend because I laughed quite a few times during The Invention of Lying. It was quite funny. But then, Ricky Gervais always seems to be able to make me laugh.
The romance plot line is pretty weak admittedly and seemed to be dragged out a little too long. Jennifer Garner as Anna plays the beautiful but brutally honest love interest. Gervais' character Mark is a down and out television writer who has no luck with women. While Anna is ever practical, Mark is much more a feeling person. He is not like everyone else.
I was most fascinated by the society Gervais and Matthew Robinson had created, a world in which no one could lie and everyone was quite direct. The word "truth" does not even exist. The very idea of fiction was unheard of in that world. The movie offered a glimpse at how dreary the world would be without the use of imagination--how stunted creativity could be. Mark's lies were not without consequence though, as he quickly discovered.
Compassion and empathy seemed to be missing to a large degree in this alternate reality. The invention of the lie by Mark changed all that. Sort of. He was the only one who could tell untruths and so everyone believed every word he said. Mark's lies made life more interesting, and he was able to obtain respect and material possessions he had never had before. The only thing he couldn't get was the girl.
I can see some movie watchers not particularly taking to this movie. The whole idea of a lie possibly being good might offend some. And then there is the fact that Gervais and Robinson take a poke at religion, one of the big lies being that there is a man in the sky who controls everything. That might offend more. I thought it was actually quite amusing though.
Comedy is not my favorite movie genre. My husband jokes that I have no sense of humor. My sense of humor is just, well, different. And I really have to be in the mood to enjoy comedy. I must have been in the mood this weekend because I laughed quite a few times during The Invention of Lying. It was quite funny. But then, Ricky Gervais always seems to be able to make me laugh.
The romance plot line is pretty weak admittedly and seemed to be dragged out a little too long. Jennifer Garner as Anna plays the beautiful but brutally honest love interest. Gervais' character Mark is a down and out television writer who has no luck with women. While Anna is ever practical, Mark is much more a feeling person. He is not like everyone else.
I was most fascinated by the society Gervais and Matthew Robinson had created, a world in which no one could lie and everyone was quite direct. The word "truth" does not even exist. The very idea of fiction was unheard of in that world. The movie offered a glimpse at how dreary the world would be without the use of imagination--how stunted creativity could be. Mark's lies were not without consequence though, as he quickly discovered.
Compassion and empathy seemed to be missing to a large degree in this alternate reality. The invention of the lie by Mark changed all that. Sort of. He was the only one who could tell untruths and so everyone believed every word he said. Mark's lies made life more interesting, and he was able to obtain respect and material possessions he had never had before. The only thing he couldn't get was the girl.
I can see some movie watchers not particularly taking to this movie. The whole idea of a lie possibly being good might offend some. And then there is the fact that Gervais and Robinson take a poke at religion, one of the big lies being that there is a man in the sky who controls everything. That might offend more. I thought it was actually quite amusing though.
Disclosure: My husband treated me to the movie, paying the early bird matinee price. We each enjoyed an overpriced movie theater pretzel and shared a bottle of water (remind me next time to bring one from home). We thought at first we would be the only two people in the entire theater, but we totaled seven by the time the movie actually began. No cell phones ringing, no babies crying, only the occasional noise from outside the theater coming in from the door the staff forgot to close.
© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.
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