October has only just begun, and I already have a big bag of assorted treats in my hand. The bag is in the form of Ricky Gervais’s new comedy, “The Invention of Lying,” and the treats are, regrettably, nothing but promising comedic ideas that range from not having been cooked enough to having spent too much time in the oven to barely having one egg in the pot. These ideas have the makings of a funny movie in them, but they only produce a missed opportunity that offers hints at what it could have been.
Gervais, who co-directs and co-writes this film in addition to starring in it, creates a world that is entirely devoid of deceit. Everybody speaks the complete and unvarnished truth, ranging from facts and statistics (a very funny Coca-Cola commercial says what will happen to people who drink it too often) to the all-too-personal (Jennifer Garner’s first line in this movie shows just how much information people are compelled to divulge). This normalcy begins to change in one illuminating moment, when Gervais’s character, Mark, says one thing that is not true and gets away with it. Mark then seeks to use his new power to improve his life and to win the affections of the lovely Anna (Garner).
A world in which everybody blurts out the cold, honest truth does not sound like a comedy goldmine. It sounds like an inextinguishable reservoir of funny ideas. “Lying” employs plenty of these ideas and has some success with them. Unfortunately, it does not go far enough with some of them.
For instance, Mark works as a screenwriter at a film studio whose movies just feature renowned readers reciting the history of certain time periods (there is no fiction in this world, and that includes artistic license). That’s quite funny, but one should stop and think for a moment.
If this version of the world is free of deception, then how do we know everything in history had the same outcome? There are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of events that turned out differently because nobody could lie or even exaggerate to each other. Would the Titanic’s maiden voyage have differed if nobody could say the ship was unsinkable? Hearing the new results of these events is an idea that has plenty of potential, but “Lying” does nothing with it. I know the film has its own story to tell, but making one or two little detours into the revised pages of history could have provided an already humorous movie with some very big laughs.
Even worse than the missed opportunities is the fact that this movie cannot make up its mind about what to do with the premise. Mark’s mother is on her deathbed halfway through the movie, and Mark consoles her by telling her that she will go to a wonderful place where all her friends will be living in eternal joy. The nurses hear his words, and soon the entire world wants to hear more about the afterlife and “the man in the sky.” The religious angle to this premise starts out well and provides some very good scenes, but the movie decides not to make it the focus of the second half.
Instead, a lot of time is spent with Mark as he tries to win Anna. So much time is spent with the romantic subplot that the religious one does not get full closure. We see some characters living their lives according to what Mark tells them, and I expected the film to come to a point where Mark tells them that they should not base every moment and decision on what “the man in the sky” wants, but it never comes. Instead, we get a predictable wedding interruption scene where Mark tries to convince Anna not to marry the boorish and handsome Brad (Rob Lowe). Yet again, the movie hints at an idea that could provide some truly hilarious moments, but decides to focus on something very ordinary.
“The Invention of Lying” is often funny, but it is also very disappointing. It takes a terrific premise and squanders it on an average story, merely making us laugh when we should be howling. It’s disheartening, but that’s the truth for you.
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