The Invention of Lying

Matthew Robinson and Ricky Gervais's The Invention of Lying introduces a simplistic plot that collapses beneath the weight of its subject matter. After having lost his job, apartment, and chance with a beautiful woman (Jennifer Garner), Mark Bellison (Ricky Gervais), who inhabits a world where no one lies, discovers that if he engages in the act of lying he can do whatever he wants. No one clues into the fact that he's using his imagination to conjure fantastic stories and everyone supply acquiesces to his mischievous, modestly mendacious designs. But he has a conscience and won't lie in order to seduce his love interest, even though she consistently mentions that he isn't an adequate genetic match due to his gut and pug nose. That's about it. Apart from Gervais's characteristic dry wit, a number of entertaining cameos, and the odd hilarious bit, the film falls apart after Bellison learns to lie and would have been much funnier if it had taken place solely in the world where everyone tells the truth. Some basic plot developments are suspect as well, for instance, after having spent all of his money on rent, Bellison has money to spend at a casino, and Bellison's nemesis Brad Kessler (Rob Lowe) questions his statements even though he's supposed to believe everything everyone says. It's like Gervais's attempt to move away from sordid material into a more family friendly domain shatters his usually impeccable humour and results in a cutesy-wutsey romp, occasionally funny, but generally dismissible. Not a word of a lie.