Imagine a world in which there were no lies (think “Liar Liar” on a global scale). People told you just what they thought about you and you can tell the bank how much money is in your bank account. In this movie written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson, this world is a reality, and not necessarily a very nice one at that because apparently the world has a pretty pessimistic outlook on their fellow man. But hey, honesty is the best policy, right?
Not up until the point when Mark Bellison (played well by Gervais himself) is fired from his job, evicted from his home, and rejected by the love of his life has a lie ever been told on the face of this earth. But somehow or another, Mark realizes that he can tell the woman behind the counter at his bank that he has $800 in his account as opposed to $300 and she believes him! Which leads to, you guessed it: The Invention of Lying. What a man could do with such a power… Mark tells his dying mother, afraid of disappearing into nothingness after death, that instead of such a fate, everyone receives a mansion and gets to hang out with all their friends, in a touching scene between the two. The love interest, played by knockout Jennifer Garner, has gone out with Mark a few times but is decidedly not a proper “genetic match” for him, and is opting for a more “suitable” relation with Mark’s nemesis (played by a particularly slimy Rob Lowe). But can love conquer all?
“The Invention of Lying” is a creative idea and although definitely nothing spectacular, has a warm feeling to it, attributed to Gervais’ humble on screen persona coupled with Garner which lends a sweet chemistry to the film. The movie also contains some genuine laughs such as one scene after the world hears news that everyone gets a mansion when you die and begins grilling Mark for more answers on the afterlife.
As everyone else in the world other than Mark I cannot lie about this movie: it was an enjoyable and heartfelt little film with some good laughs. Check it out!