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IMDbPro

The Invention of Lying

  • 20092009
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
140K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,991
69
Rob Lowe, Jennifer Garner, Louis C.K., and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
Trailer for The Invention of Lying
Play trailer2:03
6 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Fantasy
  • Romance
A comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain.A comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain.A comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
140K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,991
69
  • Directors
    • Ricky Gervais
    • Matthew Robinson
  • Writers
    • Ricky Gervais
    • Matthew Robinson
  • Stars
    • Ricky Gervais
    • Jennifer Garner
    • Jonah Hill
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Ricky Gervais
    • Matthew Robinson
  • Writers
    • Ricky Gervais
    • Matthew Robinson
  • Stars
    • Ricky Gervais
    • Jennifer Garner
    • Jonah Hill
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 423User reviews
    • 194Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos6

    The Invention of Lying: UK Trailer
    Trailer 2:03
    The Invention of Lying: UK Trailer
    The Invention of Lying: "Any Messages?"
    Clip 0:33
    The Invention of Lying: "Any Messages?"
    The Invention of Lying
    Interview 0:42
    The Invention of Lying
    The Invention of Lying
    Interview 0:55
    The Invention of Lying
    The Invention of Lying
    Interview 0:42
    The Invention of Lying
    The Invention of Lying
    Interview 0:46
    The Invention of Lying

    Photos100

    Jennifer Garner and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Rob Lowe and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Jennifer Garner and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Jennifer Garner in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Fionnula Flanagan and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Jason Bateman, Fionnula Flanagan, and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Ricky Gervais and Jonah Hill in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Rob Lowe, Jennifer Garner, and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Jennifer Garner, Louis C.K., and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)
    Jennifer Garner and Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ricky Gervais
    Ricky Gervais
    • Mark Bellison
    Jennifer Garner
    Jennifer Garner
    • Anna McDoogles
    Jonah Hill
    Jonah Hill
    • Frank
    Louis C.K.
    Louis C.K.
    • Greg
    Jeffrey Tambor
    Jeffrey Tambor
    • Anthony
    Fionnula Flanagan
    Fionnula Flanagan
    • Martha Bellison
    Rob Lowe
    Rob Lowe
    • Brad Kessler
    Tina Fey
    Tina Fey
    • Shelley
    Donna Sorbello
    • Anna's Mother
    Stephanie March
    Stephanie March
    • Blonde
    Ruben Santiago-Hudson
    Ruben Santiago-Hudson
    • Landlord
    John Hodgman
    John Hodgman
    • Wedding Overseer
    Nate Corddry
    Nate Corddry
    • News Reporter
    Jimmi Simpson
    Jimmi Simpson
    • Bob
    Martin Starr
    Martin Starr
    • Waiter #1
    Jason Bateman
    Jason Bateman
    • Doctor
    Christopher Guest
    Christopher Guest
    • Nathan Goldfrappe
    Alton Fitzgerald White
    Alton Fitzgerald White
    • Angelo Badsmith
    • Directors
      • Ricky Gervais
      • Matthew Robinson
    • Writers
      • Ricky Gervais
      • Matthew Robinson
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When trying to secure Philip Seymour Hoffman for his cameo his agent claimed he was too busy so Ricky Gervais requested his email address and sent him the following: "Dear Philip, will you please appear in my new film? There is very little money involved as I spent the budget on testicular implants, but don't look upon them as my testicles, look at them as our testicles." Phillip Seymour Hoffman couldn't refuse after that.
    • Goofs
      John Hodgman, as the "Wedding Overseer" looks to be wearing a crucifix. However, upon close examination, it is actually a likeness of Mark holding the "two pizza boxes", matching the image behind the "Wedding Overseer".
    • Quotes

      Bob: Hi, I'm Bob I'm the spokesperson for the Coca-Cola company. I'm here today to ask you to continue buying coke. Sure, it's a drink you've been drinking for years, and if you still enjoy it, I'd like to remind you to buy it again sometime soon. It's basically just brown sugar water, we haven't changed the ingredients much lately, so there's nothing new I can tell you about that. We changed the can around a little bit, though. See, the colors here are different there, and we added a polar bear so the kids like us. Coke is very high in sugar and like any high calorie soda it can lead to obesity in children and adults who don't sustain a very healthy diet. So that's it, it's coke. It's very famous, everyone knows it. I'm Bob, I work for coke, and I'm asking you to not stop buying coke. That's all. It's a bit sweet. Thank you.

    • Connections
      Edited into Live Free or Die Hard (Project 12, 8/12) (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Beer Rally
      Courtesy of Killer Tracks

    User reviews423

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Clever concept that never reaches its full potential
    In a world where people can only tell the truth, Ricky Gervais creates the lie. What follows this simple concept with great potential is a series of quick fire jokes made funny by the sheer bluntness of the absolute truth. The screenplay is lightly comical but rarely laugh-out-loud funny and continually relies on the same concept.

    As the plot progresses, it veers from quick-fire jokes to a parody of religion. On the one hand, this offers an interesting and thought-provoking reflection; however, I found the developing plot to become mildly preachy and irritating to watch. The humour level drops and the religious overtones and romantic subplot overshadow the interesting idea.

    Visually, I found the film to be rather drab and dreary. Similarly, I didn't care for the dowdy and monotonous score and soundtrack choices. I understand that these are probably intended to represent a world without fiction, but they make the film a little tedious to watch and don't add anything to the movie. I enjoyed Jenifer Garner's performance as Gervais' love interest which she's plays with harsh yet likable realism, but Gervais' lead performance left me a little cold. In combination with lacklustre screenplay, I was left unimpressed with the utilisation of a potentially hilarious and fascinating concept.

    The Invention of Lying is a quiet, simple movie on the surface, but underneath lies a more complex, thought-provoking moral allegory, albeit one that fails to deliver anything truly remarkable. It tries to be clever, but fails to deliver.

    5/10.
    helpful•159
    76
    • Magic_Lantern
    • Oct 7, 2009

    FAQ2

    • Is "The Invention of Lying" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 2, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Ricky Gervais - Blog
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • This Side of the Truth
    • Filming locations
      • Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Radar Pictures
      • Media Rights Capital (MRC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $18,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $18,451,251
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,027,472
      • Oct 4, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $32,406,507
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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