In a world where everyone can only tell the truth… This guy can lie.|Sep. 13, 2009|USA|100 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Comedy;Fantasy;Romance
Description: The Invention of Lying is a 2009 film set in an alternative world where lying does not exist, and people are completely honest about their thoughts and feelings. The story follows Mark Bellison, a screenwriter in a film industry restricted to historical narratives due to the absence of fiction. One evening, Mark goes on a date with Anna McDoogles, a beautiful and wealthy woman. She openly tells Mark she is not attracted to him because of his appearance and financial struggles but agrees to the date as a favor to his best friend, Greg Kleinschmidt.
The next day, Mark loses his job because his historical films about the 14th century fail to generate interest. His landlord also threatens to evict him for unpaid rent. Distraught, Mark visits the bank to close his account. When the teller informs him that the computers are down and asks about his account balance, Mark experiences a breakthrough: he tells the world’s first lie, claiming he has $800, the exact amount he owes his landlord. This newfound ability to lie leads him to deceive others for personal gain, such as preventing Greg’s arrest for drunk driving, winning big at a casino, and writing a successful screenplay about an alien invasion in the 14th century.
As Mark’s wealth grows, he discovers that lying can also be used to help others, like stopping his neighbor Frank Fawcett from committing suicide. Eventually, Mark convinces Anna to go out with him again. While she congratulates him on his financial success and acknowledges his potential as a husband and father, she admits she is still not attracted to him due to concerns about how his genetics might affect the appearance of their future child. The film explores the consequences and complexities of a world suddenly introduced to deceit.
Cast director: Ricky Gervais
Cast actor: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C. K., Jeffrey Tambor, Fionnula Flanagan, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey, Stephanie March, Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Original name: The Invention of Lying