The invention of lying (15)

Sep 30 2009 Uxbridge Gazette

Luck soon smiles on Ricky Gervais when he invents the art of lying, writes PIERCE HUNT

LIVING in a world where everyone tells the truth can become tiresome, particularly for Mark Bellison (Ricky Gervais). Hearing "I'm not attracted to you" on a blind date kind of puts a dampener on an evening - especially when that's the opening gambit from Mark's stunning date, Anna McDoogles (Jennifer Garner).

But rather than turning on his heel and making tracks, Mark soldiers on regardless while he is dealt some more home truths. Well ...  he's actually just bombarded with put-down after put-down, but not just by his date. Even the waiter (Martin Starr) wades in with an obligatory 'she's way out of your league' interjection to the conversation.

Feeling well and truly deflated, Mark trudges off alone to his pokey apartment, where he resigns himself to another failed attempt at finding love.

The film initially feels like a cross between Liar Liar and Idiocracy, but with Mark growing increasingly anxious about his imminent firing from his screenwriter's position, it soon becomes more like Groundhog Day. Mark is told daily that he will be losing his job but his boss, Anthony (Jeffery Tambor), can't bring himself to do it.

An all-star line-up including Rob Lowe, Tina Fey, Jason Bateman and a hilarious cameo from Edward Norton as a no-nonsense cop, all serve as quirky pit-stops throughout the film. But one of the funniest moments comes from a popular carbonated beverage advert, in which a suited gentleman is standing next to a glass of fizzy saying, "It's just brown sugary water, really".

When desperation sets in for the financially fragile Mark, he heads to the bank to take out his last remaining $300, but ends up convincing the cashier he has $800 in his account. As the realisation kicks in that he is the first person on Earth to ever lie, he soon makes this newfound talent work for his own financial gains.

After securing a bumper sum of ill-gotten funds, Mark moves into a bigger bachelor pad and he and his drinking buddies, Frank (Jonah Hill) and Greg (Louis C K), enjoy a bottomless pit of alcohol. Nevertheless, not everything is as golden as it seems. Mark longs for the affections of Anna, but she still can't get over the fact that genetically they would have 'chubby kids with pug noses'.

Crushed and dejected, Mark becomes a recluse and shuns the outside world. The pain he feels from the rejection by Anna has crippled him, leaving the 'chubby loser' housebound. Mark also feels burdened with the problems facing the world as his lies lead him into murky waters when he divulges information on God (or as he puts it, the man in the sky). He digs himself a bigger hole when he comes up with a series of brief commandments, which he places on discarded pizza boxes (obviously, only Mark can hear the words from the man in the sky to relay the commandments).

The Invention of Lying begins to gradually wind down in the second half. After an allguns-blazing opening, the sentimental side to the story develops, leaving Anna questioning everything she has ever said about Mark.

It's by no means perfect, but Gervais has delivered another solid feature in his leap from the small screen. His character may be familiar, but the laughs are genuine and a definite step up from Ghost Town.