Too Much 'Lying'

Have you ever imagined a world (modern day, mind you) where no one told a lie? Where every person was so unfailingly honest to the point of being too blunt? Ricky Gervais, the British comedian best known for creating "The Office", has envisioned this world, and brought it to light in his new to DVD film "The Invention of Lying."

Gervais plays Mark Bellison, referred to by almost everyone as a "fat loser." I guess this is his idea of what would happen if people told him the what they really felt about him. Anyway, Mark works as a screenwriter for a movie company, except in this reality, since every tells the truth, the movies are boring recitations by famous people of events from history. Mark, assigned to the 1300's and thus the era of the Black Plague, is fired because "no one wants to hear about the Black Plague." His dating life is equally depressing, apparently. He goes on a date with Anna McDoogles (Jennifer Garner) who immediately says she isn't attracted or interested in him, but will go out with him to appease her mother. Yes, this is Gervais' vision of a world with no lying: bluntness. After his date and after he is fired, Mark is evicted, but when he goes to the bank to pull the rest of his money, something happens in his brain that allows him to lie and say he has more money than the system indicates. Because of the irrepressible honesty of everyone, the bank attendant believes him. Mark is amazed, and doesn't even have a word to describe the fact that he has lied.

The movie continues with Mark lying, and reaping the benefits. While talking to his mom on her deathbed, he tells her about an afterlife to make her feel better. She believes him, and dies happy, but so do the nurses and doctors who overhear him. Thinking him a messiah, Mark weaves a tale of a man in the sky who controls everything, and that you can do three bad things and still make it to the good afterlife. He even writes what virtually amounts to the 10 commandments on Pizza Hut boxes. Yes, people, this is Gervais' idea of the invention of religion. Some people might be offended, some might laugh and some might just enjoy this movie because through it all, its a romantic comedy. Who knows.

It is a good premise, and I liked the majority of the first half. It's funny and different, and has some great actors in little cameos that help. I like the advertising in this world too. Like Pepsi's, on the side of a bus, that says "Pepsi: When They're Out of Coke." The brutal honesty is funny, but it does get a little old, and at times seems forced. I understand that people say what they mean, but they wouldn't go out of their way to make fun of you, only if it was relevant. Regardless, there are some funny parts, but it really didn't hold my attention for long enough or really keep me engaged. A nice try though.

5 out of 10 stars

Here's the trailer: