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Movies / Upcoming / The Invention of Lying
The Invention of Lying

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The Invention of Lying (2009)

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Reviews Counted:155

Fresh:87

Rotten:68

Average Rating:5.9/10

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.

Genre: Comedies

US Box Office: $18,098,091

Synopsis: From Ricky Gervais, the award-winning creator and star of the original BBC series "The Office" and HBO's "Extras," comes the new romantic comedy "The Invention of Lying." "The Invention of... From Ricky Gervais, the award-winning creator and star of the original BBC series "The Office" and HBO's "Extras," comes the new romantic comedy "The Invention of Lying."

"The Invention of Lying" takes place in an alternate reality in which lying--even the concept of a lie--does not exist. Everyone--from politicians to advertisers to the man and woman on the street--speaks the truth and nothing but the truth 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.

"The Invention of Lying" stars Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner ("Juno"), Jonah Hill ("Superbad"), comedian Louis C.K., Jeffrey Tambor (TV's "Arrested Development") and Fionnula Flanagan ("Yes Man"), with Rob Lowe (TV's "Brothers and Sisters") and Tina Fey ("Baby Mama," TV's "30 Rock").

The comedy is written and directed by Ricky Gervais & Matthew Robinson. The film is produced by Lynda Obst ("How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," "Sleepless in Seattle"), Oly Obst, Gervais and Dan Lin ("Terminator Salvation," "Shorts"), Sue Baden-Powell, Ted Field, Paris Kasidokostas Latsis and Terry Dougas serving as executive producers.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Tim Suhrstedt ("17 Again"); editor Chris Gill ("28 Weeks Later"); production designer Alexander Hammond ("Flightplan"); costume designer Susie DeSanto ("13 Going on 30"); and composer Tim Atack ("Among Giants"). --© Warner Bros [More]

Starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Louis C.K.

Starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Louis C.K., Tina Fey, Christopher Guest, Jeffrey Tambor, John Hodgman, Jonah Hill, Stephen Merchant, Stephanie March

Director: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson

Director: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson
Screenwriter: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson
Producer: Lynda Obst, Oly Obst, Ricky Gervais, Dan Lin
Composer: Tim Atack
Studio: Warner Bros.

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for The Invention of Lying

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
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Ricky Gervais is a brave and creative talent and this subversive, ultimately romantic film about the value of white lies certainly has its moments.

Full Review Source: At the Movies (Australia) | comment Comment
11/22/09
Margaret Pomeranz
Margaret Pomeranz
At the Movies (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The premise allows the filmmakers latitude to invent a scenario that works as irony and satire about our modern world. It shows, humorously, how impossibly confronting it would be if we really didn't lie, flatter and smooth over our social interactions

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
11/20/09
Andrew L. Urban
Andrew L. Urban
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A brilliant and original concept, The Invention of Lying is witty, seriously funny and utterly charming. The trick to it all is that Gervais' alternate reality, where there is no deceit, flattery or fiction, is grounded solidly in a credible way

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
11/20/09
Louise Keller
Louise Keller
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's a shame that the air gets let out of this one so suddenly, as if The Invention of Lying's backbone gets ripped out of the film as the final act kicks into gear.

Full Review Source: IGN Movies AU | comment Comment
11/17/09
Patrick Kolan
Patrick Kolan
IGN Movies AU
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This entertaining and thought provoking movie ultimately urges the viewer to consider how important the truth is and where lies fit in to our lives.

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
10/01/09
Melissa Algaze
Melissa Algaze
Dark Horizons
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

There are cycles of inspiration and rebirth, but the barbed promise of the early going loses its way in choices aimed at sentimentality rather than, as Harvey Kurtzman memorably put it, humor in a jugular vein.

Full Review Source: Film.com | comment Comment
11/22/09
Jonathan F. Richards
Jonathan F. Richards
Film.com

...becomes dizzyingly hilarious, mixed with genuine sympathy, while an amusing and subversive element grows slowly, beginning as fascinating and then stumbling into inevitability.

Full Review Source: Cinerina | comment Comment
11/19/09
Karina Montgomery
Karina Montgomery
Cinerina

The star cameos in The Invention of Lying are non-stop, distracting, and always blatantly pointed out as if this were a Cannonball Run sequel.

Full Review Source: Examiner.com | comment Comment
11/09/09
Adam Lippe
Adam Lippe
Examiner.com

It feels, in spirit, like a fable, in the mold of films like It's a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street. I just wish it were better.

Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
10/31/09
Frederica Mathewes-Green
Frederica Mathewes-Green
Christianity Today

"The Invention of Lying" is like "Groundhog Day," although not in the way it intends to be. Watching the film feels like you're reliving the same lame scenes over and over, powerless to change what happens in this profoundly disappointing comedy.

Full Review Source: Suite101.com | comment Comment
10/27/09
Nick Rogers
Nick Rogers
Suite101.com

All the dazzling, limitless comedic potential here, and we're stuck waiting for the hot younger girl to wise up and learn to love the homely guy who wrote the movie?

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Weekly | comment Comment
10/27/09
Sean Burns
Sean Burns
Philadelphia Weekly

Flaccid rom-com uplift and cut-rate snark

Full Review Source: CinePassion | comment Comment
10/26/09
Fernando F. Croce
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion

One of the best and most thought-provoking American comedies to come along in some considerable time.

Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) | comment Comment
10/25/09
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

"Fun!"

Full Review Source: SpoutBlog | comment Comment
10/23/09
Karina Longworth
Karina Longworth
SpoutBlog

a terribly unwieldy vehicle built on an inherently funny premise that just can't sustain what Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson eventually want to heap on it

Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | comment Comment
10/20/09
James Kendrick
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk

Ricky Gervais stars and directs and takes a good premise and some funny bits and tries to get philosophical, only to come up short in both laughs and depth.

Full Review Source: Spectrum (St. George, Utah) | comment Comment
10/11/09
Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett
Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

I'll bemoan the ending forever (or until they change it on DVD), but right now I'm still wondering how a movie with this radical a subtext got made at all.

Full Review Source: Scene-Stealers.com | comment Comment
10/11/09
Eric Melin
Eric Melin
Scene-Stealers.com

The film has two very, very good ideas, but doesn't fit them together well; while its laughs are only sporadic, and the romantic subplot falls generally flat.

Full Review Source: The Trend | comment Comment
10/11/09
Stephen Silver
Stephen Silver
The Trend

For a self-avowed atheist, Ricky Gervais certainly focuses a lot on spirituality in his movies.

Full Review Source: Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) | comment 2 Comments
10/10/09
Linda Cook
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

Like 'Life of Brian,' 'The Invention of Lying' pokes fun at religious beliefs. Too bad it fails to emphasize the fun.

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment 1 Comment
10/09/09
Betty Jo Tucker
Betty Jo Tucker
ReelTalk Movie Reviews
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
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