That a great comic idea does not necessarily make for a great screen comedy is the lesson for first-time writer-director-star Ricky Gervais as he comes unstuck.
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10/04/09
The Invention of Lying (2009)
57
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:161
Fresh:91
Rotten:70
Average Rating:5.8/10
Consensus: It doesn't quite follow through on its promise, and relies too heavily on shopworn romantic comedy tropes, but The Invention of Lying is uncommonly sly and funny.
Rated: 12A [See Full Rating]
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:02-10-2009
Synopsis: From Ricky Gervais, the award-winning creator and star of the original BBC series "The Office" and HBO's "Extras," comes the new romantic comedy "The Invention of Lying." "The Invention of... [More]
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Louis C.K.
Director: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson
Reviews for The Invention of Lying
Top CriticA little comedy that dares to think big, Ricky Gervais makes the leap to Hollywood comedy lead with aplomb in a sweet film that will give you a whole new appreciation of the power of telling porkies.
10/04/09
Top CriticHis comedy pretends to be unthreatening, a harmless little wheeze, and then pushes the envelope to its logical conclusion.
10/04/09
Top CriticWith nowhere to go, Gervais & Co get sentimental about the lovability of awkward, unattractive men, and the film fizzles out.
10/04/09
The Invention of Lying is an underdeveloped work from an overindulged comic.
10/04/09
A wryly amusing, imaginative tale.
10/04/09
Gervais pretty much reprises his earlier roles – wheeling out excruciating moments of discomfort – but it’s Garner who’s the comedy revelation here. Skittish, bright and vivacious, she plays her part to perfection.
10/04/09
Wittier than your average romcom, with a conceit that’ll have you dreaming up your own comedic reality checks. A treat for fans – but torture for those who have tired of Gervais’ naked ambition.
10/04/09
The simple truth is, any comedian could take Gervais' place in the film, and you probably wouldn't notice. For a comic who likes to put his fingerprints on everything he does, it feels like he's playing it safe.
10/04/09
The Invention Of Lying deserves high marks for cleverness, but low ones for humanity and warmth.
10/04/09
One of the lamest comedies of the year.
10/04/09
The Invention Of Lying is worth seeing, but it isn't a rush to see.
10/04/09
The laughs rain down early on; later – Messiah moment apart – they thin to a drizzle, deprived of variation.
10/04/09
This topsy-turvy place hasn't the watertight consistency to persuade us, and its star, for all his talent, is not a romantic comedian. That's the truth as I see it.
10/04/09
A long, impressively clever sketch that gets hung up on being a sweet-and-sour romcom.
10/04/09
It’s a high-concept twist too far: in Liar Liar and Groundhog Day, the worlds themselves were believable; whereas here the world (explained via a cumbersome opening voiceover) is simply too far-fetched and therefore lacks resonance.
10/04/09
Despite its flaws, The Invention of Lying is Gervais’s best film outing to date. It draws his talent into alignment with some comedy classics, and shows that he has the intelligence to go for invention and originality.
10/04/09
Fact: There's good Gervais and bad Gervais. And this is him at his pompous worst - preachy, one-note and obsessed with smug celeb cameos.
10/04/09
Despite Gervais's considerable creative input, The Invention of Lying is not very good. It seems stuck in strange limbo, torn between a desire to be both hip and cutting-edge and be a quality piece of accessible mainstream entertainment.
10/04/09
Watchable comedy with an intriguing premise, but it loses its way badly in the second half and almost drowns in a sea of ill-advised product placement.
10/02/09
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