The Invention of Lying

PG-13

Released Oct 2, 2009

1 hr. 39 min.

Comedy

List

56%

188 Reviews

Tomatometer

39%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Mark Bellison (Ricky Gervais) is a down-on-his-luck writer who lives in world where falsehoods are completely unknown. When Mark suddenly develops the ability to lie, the notion that "honesty is the best policy" goes out the window, and he uses his newfound skill for personal gain.

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Critics 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.

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Chris O

This is an underrated and profound movie. Maybe a little on the nose at times. I think a lot of the negative reviews are people who are sensitive about films that poke fun at religion.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/11/24

Full Review

Ariana J

Such a brilliant, beautiful dark comedy. Ricky Gervais at his best, it's moving and so very funny.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/17/24

Full Review

EllaJo r

Entertaining enough 🤣

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

Full Review

Jan D

I'm a die-hard Ricky Gervais fan, so obviously I'm biased... it's just that this toe-cringing humor is a rare find, it's like a drug, and I need my shot... even though it's not the pure stuff.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/22/23

Full Review

Steve D

Not as good in practice as on paper.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/08/23

Full Review

Tyler P

Hilariously funny whilst staying relevant all these years later it is one of my favourite movies from Ricky Gervais

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/20/23

Full Review

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Ricky Gervais

Director

Matthew Robinson

Director

Ricky Gervais

Mark Bellison

Jennifer Garner

Anna McDoogles

Jonah Hill

Frank

Louis C.K.

Greg

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Not funny or surreal enough to distract you from its shortcomings and not subversive enough, if at all, to actually have something to say.

Aug 30, 2018

Full Review

Giles Hardie

Sydney Morning Herald

Somewhere between a great concept and an awful script The Invention of Lying got lost in its own truth gimmick. But the truth is, it starts bad and just gets worse.

Rated: 1/5

Feb 6, 2018

Full Review

Ed Koch

The Atlantic

I kid you not when I say I sat there wondering is there nothing more to this film? Am I overlooking something? I don't think so, and I couldn't wait for the lights to go up.

Jan 17, 2018

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

[An] instantly original and at times ingenious for purporting moral and social discourse, as through the guise of a typical rom-com it confronts the audience with the very core of their beliefs and behaviors.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 30, 2023

Full Review

Jason Best

Movie Talk

The Invention of Lying has some good gags... But the flat direction becomes wearisome and the story runs out of steam before it even reaches a romcom ending that is more sentimental than subversive.

Nov 27, 2020

Full Review

Megan Basham

WORLD

The Invention of Lying, which Gervais wrote, directed, and stars in, is only a comedy for about 20 minutes. The rest is an atheistic treatise mocking anyone who believes there is a God and that He imposed a moral order on the world.

Dec 14, 2018

Full Review

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Synopsis

Mark Bellison (Ricky Gervais) is a down-on-his-luck writer who lives in world where falsehoods are completely unknown. When Mark suddenly develops the ability to lie, the notion that "honesty is the best policy" goes out the window, and he uses his newfound skill for personal gain.

Director: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson
Executive Producer: Ted Field, Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis, Terry Dougas, Sue Baden-Powell
Screenwriter: Ricky Gervais
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Radar Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Language|A Drug Reference|Some Sexual Material)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 2, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.4M

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