The Invention of Lying

In a world where everyone told the truth and lying does not exist, one man takes it upon himself to change everything.

The Invention Of Lying, written and directed by creator and star of the original BBC series The Office Ricky Gervais and co-director and writer Matthew Robinson, tests the limits of the imagination where one man strays from the norm and discovers the consequences of bending the truth to get what you want.

Gervais is a triple threat in the film being one of the writers, directors and the main character Mark Bellison.

Bellison's life comes to a halt as one bad event comes after another. A disappointing date with Anna McDoogles, (Jennifer Garner) is followed by Bellison losing his job and then getting evicted from his apartment.

Out of desperation he goes to the bank to withdraw what little money he has to pay his landlord and finds that he only has $300 instead of the $800 needed.

A surge then goes through his mind and something monumental happens. Instead of saying $300 he says $800, thus being the first person of all of man-kind to ever tell a lie.
It is then when Bellison realizes what had just happened and the endless possibilities to come.

With an all star cast featuring Gervais, Garner, Jonah Hill, Rob Lowe, comedian Louis C.K., Jeffrey Tambor and Tina Fey, audiences should be prepared to laugh, especially with the aspect of everyone truthfully speaking their mind at all times.

After his discovery, Bellison then uses his new found skill to do some good — but not without doing some things for himself first.

After getting his own life back together, he uses his ability for good by helping others by telling little harmless white lies.

It is later in the film when Bellison gets carried away and one lie in particular catches the attention of people worldwide. From here and through a web of lies that he earns the fame and fortune he's always wanted, but he doesn't have everything.

Like most storylines it's always "that girl," or "that guy" and in this case the girl is Anna. She eventually becomes a regular in his life despite having a shaky first date and the two become best friends. The ever so cliché situation then surfaces, do they just want to be friends or more than friends?

Every line in the film sounds snarky or smart, but it is just the fact that it's the truth. Gervais and Robinson make the small town that the film is set in seem secluded with a strong feeling of dullness and just being plain. It is once the art of lying finds it way into their lives that things change in everyone.

With lies, loss and love, The Invention Of Lying has spectrums of dark and light humor, but all in the sake of a good laugh. Gervais's character is very forward and a little bland but charming at the same time.

His English accent also brings his sarcasm and jokes to another level. The Invention Of Lying in a way pokes fun at how we live our daily lives and gives us a glimpse into a world where truth and logic rule all, showing us that a little white lie can't hurt once in a while.