The Invention of Lying (2009)

Directors:

Ricky Gervais
Matthew Robinson

Writers (WGA):

Ricky Gervais (written by) &
Matthew Robinson (written by)

Release Date:

2 October 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

In a world where everyone can only tell the truth... ...this guy can lie.

Plot:

A comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain. |

Plot Keywords:

Friendship | Alternate Reality | Scriptwriter | Wedding | Homeless Man

US Showtimes:

Beverly Center Cinemas

12:40pm | 3:50 | 6:30 | 9:40

(personalize)

Cast

Ricky Gervais	...	Mark Bellison
Jennifer Garner	...	Anna McDoogles
Jonah Hill	...	Frank
Louis C.K.	...	Greg
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Anthony
Fionnula Flanagan	...	Martha Bellison
Rob Lowe	...	Brad Kessler
Tina Fey	...	Shelley
Donna Sorbello	...	Anna's Mother
Stephanie March	...	Blonde
Ruben Santiago-Hudson	...	Landlord
John Hodgman	...	Wedding Overseer
Nathan Corddry	...	News Reporter
Jimmi Simpson	...	Bob
Martin Starr	...	Waiter #1

Also Known As:

This Side of the Truth (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language including some sexual material and a drug reference.

Runtime:

99 min | Canada:99 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #45305) | UK:12A | Ireland:15A

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Lin Pictures

Trivia:

The chapel where Jennifer Garner is getting married near the end of the film is the same chapel she was getting married in in her previous film, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009).

Goofs:

Continuity: In the bar scene, there is a full glass of beer in front of Mark. When the camera cuts to the bartender then back to Mark, his beer glass is near empty, now accompanied by several empty shot glasses.

Quotes:

Mark Bellison: I did a bad thing...
Anna McDoogles: It's ok you get three!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Live from Studio Five: (#1.13)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Mr Blue Sky

Just Dumb- A Waste

The movie was simply too filled with plot holes and a real humor to carry itself. The religion plot was far too thin and lacked ingenuity and detail. It felt more simply like a series of statements mean to shock and insense the audience with its brutality and bluntness. There is a great deal of difference between being polite and being blunt. Just because the characters had to speak the truth did not necessarily mean they had to tell the WHOLE truth. The entire mechanism for the plot is nothing more than a bullying running gag, and I was very disappointed by the film's end. Nothing more than a mediocre effort at shock comedy that lacks any great punch.