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The 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.
2009 · Directed by Ricky Gervais · 100 min · Comedy · Fantasy · Romance · Screenplay in the scene database · 11 frames
Tagline
In a world where everyone can only tell the truth... This guy can lie.
Plot
The film is set in an alternative reality in which lying does not exist and people are straightforward about what they think and feel.
Mark Bellison is a screenwriter in a film industry limited to historical readings because there is no fiction. One night he has a date with the beautiful and wealthy Anna McDoogles. She tells Mark she is not attracted to him, because of his looks and failing financial situation, but is going out with him as a favor to his best friend, Greg Kleinschmidt.
The next day, Mark is fired from his job because of the lack of interest in his films (which are set in the lackluster 1300s), and his landlord threatens to evict him for not paying his rent. Crestfallen, he goes to the bank to close his account. The teller informs him that the computers are down and asks him how much money he has in his account. Mark then has an epiphany that enables him to tell the world's first lie, which is that he has $800—the amount he owed his landlord—in his account. He then lies in a variety of other circumstances, initially for personal gain; he prevents a police officer from arresting Greg for drunk driving, convinces a strange woman to have casual sex with him to prevent the end of the world (but fakes a call from NASA confirming the world has been saved after deciding that this was exploitative), breaks the bank at a casino, and writes a screenplay about the world being invaded by aliens in the 14th century that ends with the claim that everyone's memories were erased. He becomes wealthy from the film's success. Mark soon realises that lying can also be used to help others, such as stopping his depressive neighbour Frank Fawcett from committing suicide. Soon after, Mark convinces Anna to go out with him again. She congratulates Mark for his financial success and admits that he would be a good husband and father, but she is still not attracted to him because his genetics and appearance are not likely to produce the kind of child she wants.
Plot summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
Crew
- Written by: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson
- Cinematography: Tim Suhrstedt
- Edited by: Chris Gill
- Music: Tim Atack
- Production design: Alec Hammond
- Produced by: Ricky Gervais, Dan Lin, Oly Obst, Lynda Obst
Cast
- Ricky Gervais as Mark Bellison
- Jennifer Garner as Anna McDoogles
- Louis C.K. as Greg Kleinschmidt
- Rob Lowe as Brad Kessler
- Jonah Hill as Frank Fawcett
- Jeffrey Tambor as Anthony James
- Fionnula Flanagan as Martha Bellison
- Tina Fey as Shelley Bailey
- Donna Sorbello as Anna's Mother
- Jason Bateman as Doctor
Production
- Country: United States of America
- Language: English
- Studios: MRC, 1821 Pictures, Lynda Obst Productions, Radar Pictures
- Budget: $18,500,000
- Box office: $32,400,000
- Themes: screenwriter, lie, invention, heaven, romcom, romance, wealth, fame, religion, lies
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