The Invention of Lying
The Invention of Lying is painfully unfunny. Ricky Gervais is talented and can be a funny man, but he missed the target this time. A one-joke film in which the joke makes less and less sense the more you think about it. Within ten minutes I was finding the entire premise irritating rather than amusing. There’s a hint of clever satire but it’s completely drowned as a painful romance between Gervais’ character and one of the least likeable and sympathetic characters ever to appear on screen plays out in a world requiring more belief-suspension than is technically possible.
The Invention of Lying: Not a funny film, sadly.
Nobody can tell a lie, it seems. You can just about buy into that idea for 90 minutes. But it appears that everyone must always blurt out their worst thoughts at inopportune moments even when not asked a direct question. Not that they’re in a constant stream-of-consciousness; it just happens for comic effect. So it becomes a world filled with obnoxious tactless morons, not honest people. Even that might have survived as an enjoyable film had the writing and plot risen above the average, but they don’t. The protagonist falls in love with the most shallow and unlikeable woman in a world full of them, making it impossible to feel anything but relief when she spurns his advances and incredulity when she finally succumbs to his charms. Charms which consist essentially of (a) that she occasionally laughs when he’s around — though we don’t actually see very much of that, and (b) his dishonestly-acquired wealth and success. Her conversion is complete when she encounters a “chubby” kid being bullied in a park in one of the most cringe-inducing scenes in cinema history (she didn’t want “chubby, snub-nosed children”, you see?)
An idea that might have had some potential is squandered by writing that tries at turns to be mainstream romcom, social satire and crass sex-comedy and never convinces with any of them. Overall, avoid.
That’s a pity, i’ve been really looking forward to seeing that film, as i have long considered Gervais to be the only living successor to Chaplin & Woody Allen.. But, pretty much all the reports ive heard of it have been bad, so i guess he’s missed this time. Maybe he’s been spreading himself too thin, the last standup show wasnt as good as his earlier ones either.
There ARE some great films everyone should see this year, though:
Moon
Assassination of a High School President
World’s Greatest Dad
Zombieland
& Up
all utterly, utterly wonderful x
October 24th, 2009 | 6:44pm
by hoop
Oh yes & The Brothers Bloom, too.. sags a little towards the end but it is still a thing of ravishing beauty & surprise & the best Wes Anderson picture anyone but Wes Anderson has been able to make.
October 26th, 2009 | 8:56am
by hoop
Were there any cows in it?
October 26th, 2009 | 4:21pm
by merrick
Don’t recall any cows, Merrick, but in fairness my attention had begun to wander somewhat within 20 minutes of the film starting. And there’s no way in hell I’m rewatching that turd in order to satisfy your cinematic bovine statistical analysis.
Personally I wouldn’t place Gervais in the same league as Chaplin or Allen, Mahalia. He can occasionally rise to a high level of thought-provoking comedy, but he’s only ever engaged me emotionally twice (the Christmas Party episode of The Office and the Big Brother episode of Extras) and neither of those came close in that respect to the level that Manhattan or Stardust Memories managed.
I certainly don’t want to sound like I’m slating him (I think he’s done some wonderful stuff) but I’m a little less entusiastic about his talents than you clearly are.
I’ve not actually seen any of the films you mention. I’m looking forward to watching Moon, Up and Zombieland and I’ll take The Brothers Bloom under advisement.
As for the other two though, I’m not so sure. I read a review that suggested World’s Greatest Dad could be boiled down to “unlikeable people try to make each others lives miserable in as snide a manner as possible” and wound up being quite depressing overall. And of Assassination of a High School President… “Take Veronica Mars, remove the wit and add drugs, bad acting and horrible writing”. If you recommend it that highly I might give it a go sometime, but nothing about it appeals to me so far.
October 27th, 2009 | 4:00pm
by Jim Bliss
I agree 100% with the review of the film, I’d also like to add that that the “fat snub-nosed” jokes are starting to wear a bit thin. It was funny the first time… I don’t actually know what a snub nose looks like, but his looks fairly average to me. As for him being fat, well yes, but I’ve seen a lot fatter. If he’s got a complex with these things maybe he should talk to a professional rather that doing his therapy with his scriptwriting.
I am looking forward to Cemetry Junction though, as I have a suspicion that Stephen Merchant is actually the key to Gervais’s funniness. Their material together is hilarious, Gervais just doesn’t cut it alone…
November 1st, 2009 | 7:27pm
by Alistair
[…] a review November 10th, 2009 | 1:03am by Jim Bliss Sadly, despite high expectations, the last film I reviewed (The Invention of Lying) turned out to be a turkey. So I’m glad, this time, to be able to […]
November 10th, 2009 | 1:03am
by Zombieland: a review (The Quiet Road)