The Invention of Lying (Ricky Gervais)

[Henry Gale]

New cast information from the movie now has the line-up as

Ricky Gervais
Jennifer Garner
Rob Lowe
Jonah Hill
Louis C.K.
Tina Fey
Christopher Guest
Jeffrey Tambor

All of this and Gervais is co-writing and directing it with Matt Robinson (though I can't say I know who he is). The plot outline is amusing too:


"This Side of the Truth" is set in a contemporary world where no one has ever lied. Gervais will play a performer who tells the first lie and harnesses its power for personal gain.

Safe to say this is definately something to look forward to.

[Spinal]

You have my attention.


But Jonah Hill? Grumble, grumble.

[Henry Gale]

But Jonah Hill? Grumble, grumble.

I dunno, seeing him in things like this week's SNL actually had me thinking that he can do more than just the type of humour he played in last year's Apatow movies. Not that I think this will require him to do much more than that, but I definitely don't have a problem with him being in something like this.

[Spinal]

Interesting that Stephen Merchant isn't involved. I wonder how that will go.

[ledfloyd]

Interesting that Stephen Merchant isn't involved. I wonder how that will go.
that was my initial thought as well.

still, gervais has my attention. so far he's batting 1.000

[DavidSeven]

Ricky Gervais
Jennifer Garner
Rob Lowe
Jonah Hill
Louis C.K.
Tina Fey
Christopher Guest
Jeffrey Tambor

...meh? Well, I'll see anything with Tina Fey.

[Winston*]

It's called The Invention of Lying now for some reason.

Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSGt673XsIg)

Looks alright. Seems like kind of a sketchy premise. Louis C.K!

[B-side]

Louis CK is amazing. Movie looks OK. Will likely end up with a contrived happy ending, but oh well. Gervais is cool.

[Mara]

I think it looks good. And these are the sort of actors that I love to watch when they actually manage to pick a good project.

(Especially Jennifer Garner, actually. I like her quite a bit, but she makes the stupidest films.)

[Ezee E]

Eh. Was suppose to be out in April. Now out in Septeber. Big warning there.

[Henry Gale]

The UK trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lu4Fx3xHGU) is much better. Plus, JJ Abrams' overly gushing blurb about the movie did its job in making me want to see it that much more:


Ricky Gervais proves, once again, that he is the master. Not only of comedy, but social commentary. ‘The Invention of Lying’ is as funny as it is biting, wholly original, and surprisingly moving. Is there such thing as an important comedy? Turns out there is, and this is it.

[Amnesiac]

People who read the script said it was quite hilarious (particularly the opening). Either way, I'll likely be watching this as Gervais has yet to disappoint me. I even liked Ghost Town.

[Mara]

Ghost Town wasn't terrific, but it was okay.

[transmogrifier]

I think it looks good. And these are the sort of actors that I love to watch when they actually manage to pick a good project.

(Especially Jennifer Garner, actually. I like her quite a bit, but she makes the stupidest films.)

Jennifer Garner, comedianne >>>> Jennifer Garner, serious actress

[number8]

I see Martin Starr and Stephen Merchant in that trailer, as well. This cast is amazing.

[Milky Joe]

...meh? Well, I'll see anything with Tina Fey.

How do you 'meh' Ricky Gervais, Rob Lowe, Louis C.K., Christopher Guest, and Jeffrey Tambor? Jeffrey Tambor, man.

[Grouchy]

I like the premise of this movie.

It hasn't been done.

[Pathétique]

Sounds like the reverse of Liar, Liar.

[trotchky]

Both trailers were funny but PG-13 = No thanks.

[Mara]

Jennifer Garner, comedianne >>>> Jennifer Garner, serious actress

I like it when she fights with people.

Also, I think she was underappreciated in Juno.

[right_for_the_moment]

Also, I think she was underappreciated in Juno.
Definitely agree with this part.

I'll probably see this movie too. Tina Fey!!!

[Acapelli]

Both trailers were funny but PG-13 = No thanks.
is this supposed to mean that only r-rated comedies can be great, because that's oh so wrong

[trotchky]

is this supposed to mean that only r-rated comedies can be great, because that's oh so wrong

No, but I can't think of a recent, great comedy that hasn't been rated R. This is one of the reasons I'm hesitant to see Whatever Works.

BUT! Annie Hall and Groundhog Day are two of my favorite movies. SO! Yes, it is certainly possible for comedies that aren't R-rated to be great.

[Henry Gale]

Early buzz is quite good and the movie is out in a few weeks, but nothing has made me more excited for it than Karl's "review" of the film:

Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqt8rWDGIfo)

Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97N-VKfZt-A)

[number8]

We should change the thread title.

[Raiders]

We should change the thread title.

Voila.

[number8]

I've been hearing this being described as an atheist manifesto a lot. As if I wasn't excited to see it already.

[Spaceman Spiff]

This was very meh. It's a shame too, because I only wish the best for Mr. Gervais.

[Acapelli]

This was very meh. It's a shame too, because I only wish the best for Mr. Gervais.
pretty much what i've been hearing

[number8]

I actually really liked this. I think the saccharine tone is pretty much intentional. I described this as a trojan horse movie—it's basically a bleak religious satire told as a romantic comedy.

[Ezee E]

I actually really liked this. I think the saccharine tone is pretty much intentional. I described this as a trojan horse movie—it's basically a bleak religious satire told as a romantic comedy.
Yup.

I liked it a lot, but there seems like there was something even more brilliant being developed that just didn't get there.

It's a pretty smart comedy though with the satire involved, as the romance part is the worst part about the movie.

Several hilarious moments though. Tambor's, "I knew it," when Gervais said he was depressed after being fired, and all of Jason Bateman's role had me rolling.

I'm surprised this isn't getting the "hate" from religious groups. Unless they found out that simply ignoring it is the best medicine.

[Sycophant]

Eh. I wish this movie was technically better. Like, I wish it had better photography and stuff.

Some of the line readings during the big crowd scene were the best thing I've heard in a theater all year.

[Ezee E]

Eh. I wish this movie was technically better. Like, I wish it had better photography and stuff.

Some of the line readings during the big crowd scene were the best thing I've heard in a theater all year.
Yeah, I can agree with that. Gervais comes from television though.

This movie had plenty of potential for some good art direction and stuff.

[EyesWideOpen]

Edward Norton came out of nowhere.

[Henry Gale]

I had a very good time with this. It's not perfect and its ambitions come off as far exceeding what it bothers to achieve by the time it end, but it's incredibly charming, funny, sweet and emotional. Particularly the more grim stuff with Jonah Hill and Fionnula Flanagan really ground the movie when its hyper-realistic universe and premise feel like they have no other mode or depth to any of its inhabitants.

Gervais and Robinson's direction is stylistically pretty hollow and dull, but I think on the comedic and performance sides of things, they do a very good job of getting many memorable moments from everyone in the smallest recognizable cameos all the way to Garner to Gervais himself. Also, Gervais using the "Woody Allen" font in title cards and the credits definitely feels more appropriate to him calling Sleeper an inspiration instead of it imposing itself as something resembling anything Allen may have strived to do later.

Sure, it could have hypothetically been an incredible comedy that has grand ideas that are fufilled in a ton of thoughtful and focused ways (especially with what happens in the second act). But it's not. It's a love story at heart and even when that falls onto some typical rom-com tracks, it being set in the world it is allows every bit of drama and dialogue to find a different tone than when we may have seen it before. Any issues like that are in the background of my mine because everything it does choose to do is still extremely entertaining.

***½

[transmogrifier]

Starts off okay, though I was annoyed with the fact that the premise dictated that people would give out sensitive information without being prompted first - it's all well and good that people are unable to lie, but it never really made sense in the context of the movie that people wouldn't have the capacity to withhold their thoughts until directly asked for them.

The religion angle is far too on the nose to be perceptive or interesting, though it is good for a few laughs. But the gradual devolution into saccharine romcom platitudes doesn't work, either on face value OR as satire (and I severely doubt that it was meant as such).

Garner is exceptional, though, a beguiling mix of ditzy, sexy and funny. This and 13 Going on 30 make it clear her real strength is in comedy. All the other actors are wasted, especially Fey.

[Ezee E]

Garner is exceptional, though, a beguiling mix of ditzy, sexy and funny. This and 13 Going on 30 make it clear her real strength is in comedy. All the other actors are wasted, especially Fey.

Spot on. Although I really liked Bateman's scene as the doctor.

[number8]

I would say that if anyone's comic expertise is wasted, it was Louis CK's.

[Ezee E]

I would say that if anyone's comic expertise is wasted, it was Louis CK's.
Was he the roommate? I don't even remember.

[Adam]

Saw this a while ago and wasn't crazy about it. Like transmogrifier said, Gervais settles on taking only the laziest of pot shots at religion and then giving up on it in the end, anyway. Considering the talent involved, the whole thing is just so dang uneven with too many recognizable faces in bit parts that are total non-starters. And I thought Garner was really bad. A better performance there might've at least brought a level of affability to the more romantic comedy-ish bits