"The Invention of Lying"

Nelson: "The Invention of Lying" started out as a fun and funny movie, I REALLY wanted to like this movie too, just like the last one we watched, "The Ugly Truth" for many of the same reasons. I like Ricky Gervais and Jennifer Garner, and it was an all star cast but once I got into the movie I realized something that was either intended or not about the premise and it bothered me a bit. You see, in the world the characters in this movie live in, no one is able to lie and therefore anything that is said is considered the gospel truth, PUN INTENDED because in their world no one had written "The Bible" and there was no concept of an afterlife, or any religion and that was a large hurdle for me. Ricky Gervais is the first man to be able to lie and he really enjoys his new found ability and even tells of a man in the sky who is the ultimate creator and how the afterlife will be great because we spend eternity with our loved ones in mansions, but why would a liar have to be the one to consider these possibilities? There were some very funny scenes where people tell the truth about what they are thinking and what they are or have been doing, but the whole religion thing was a problem for me, and I am not a religious fanatic but I do believe in heaven and hell and that Jesus Christ died for my sins, and my faith tells me that that is not a lie, nor is it made up. If they had not made the fact that there was no religion in a no lying world, I probably would have enjoyed this movie more and maybe I am making more of it than I should, but since this blog is my opinion, then I have given it. I give it 1.5 stars for being an ingenious concept and funny, but I would not recommend this movie.

Pam: It's a funny premise: everyone tells the absolute truth and no one thinks to question anything you say because they don't understand the concept of lying. It creates some pretty funny scenes between a couple on a first date (what if people said what they were really thinking rather than trying to be nice and polite?), and an inept boss and his secretary (wouldn't you love to say all those things you're thinking, but can't say out loud?)But along with no lying, screenplay co-writer Gervais has also created a world with no imagination, no creativity, and no religion. Wait a minute, what's the message here? Does that mean that religion is based on a lie? Once the movie crosses over into this territory, its purpose becomes a little fuzzy. Is it still a comedy? Is it social satire? Is it a comment on people's gullibility to believe anything told to them by hypocritical priests or ministers? Is it a comment on how the screenwriter thinks religion was really founded, by someone making up a fantastical story? Once the movie lost its focus, I lost interest. If you're willing to endure the commentary on religion, there are some funny scenes, but overall, I would not recommend this movie. 1.5 stars