The Invention of Lying
Rent & Buy
Set in a world where the concept of lying doesn't exist, a loser changes his lot when he invents lying and uses it to get ahead.
What critics thought
Critics were split on whether the film's clever premise delivers on its potential: most found it genuinely funny and unusually sharp for a mainstream comedy, but many felt the romantic-comedy framework undermined the concept and that the satirical edges grew repetitive or heavy-handed. The religion angle in particular divided viewers who found it daring from those who found it labored.
“in its amiable, quiet, PG-13 way, [it] is a remarkably radical comedy”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“It is slick and it is funny. But it is also too obviously schematic, while that romantic subplot can feel awfully synthetic at times.”
Xan Brooks·The Guardian
“looks so shoddy that you yearn for the camerawork, lighting and polish of his shows, like the original The Office, because, really, these days TV rarely looks this bad.”
Manohla Dargis·The New York Times
Genres
Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Cast & Crew
Ricky GervaisDirector
Matthew RobinsonDirector
Ricky GervaisMark Bellison
Jennifer GarnerAnna McDoogles
Louis C.K.Greg Kleinschmidt
Rob LoweBrad Kessler
Jonah HillFrank Fawcett
Jeffrey TamborAnthony James
Fionnula FlanaganMartha Bellison
Tina FeyShelley Bailey
Donna SorbelloAnna's Mother
Jason BatemanDoctor
Philip Seymour HoffmanJim the Bartender
Jimmi SimpsonBobThe Invention of Lying
Set in a world where the concept of lying doesn't exist, a loser changes his lot when he invents lying and uses it to get ahead.
What critics thought
Critics were split on whether the film's clever premise delivers on its potential: most found it genuinely funny and unusually sharp for a mainstream comedy, but many felt the romantic-comedy framework undermined the concept and that the satirical edges grew repetitive or heavy-handed. The religion angle in particular divided viewers who found it daring from those who found it labored.
“in its amiable, quiet, PG-13 way, [it] is a remarkably radical comedy”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“It is slick and it is funny. But it is also too obviously schematic, while that romantic subplot can feel awfully synthetic at times.”
Xan Brooks·The Guardian
“looks so shoddy that you yearn for the camerawork, lighting and polish of his shows, like the original The Office, because, really, these days TV rarely looks this bad.”
Manohla Dargis·The New York Times
Genres
Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Cast & Crew
Ricky GervaisDirectorMatthew RobinsonDirectorRicky GervaisMark BellisonJennifer GarnerAnna McDooglesLouis C.K.Greg KleinschmidtRob LoweBrad KesslerJonah HillFrank FawcettJeffrey TamborAnthony JamesFionnula FlanaganMartha BellisonTina FeyShelley BaileyDonna SorbelloAnna's MotherJason BatemanDoctorPhilip Seymour HoffmanJim the BartenderJimmi SimpsonBobRent & Buy