Directors: Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson
Screenplay: Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Rob Lowe, Tina Fey
Running Time: 100 minutes
Genre: Comedy, fantasy
This film is set in an alternate world in which the human race has not developed the ability to lie. In this world everyone says exactly what they think all the time. The story focuses on Mark Bellison (Gervais) an unsuccessful screenwriter who is constantly unlucky in love (in this world there is no concept of fiction so all films are basically documentaries consisting of dry readings about historical events). After an unsuccessful date with the beautiful and successful Annie (Garner), later being fired from his job and threatened with eviction from his home, Mark manages to tell the world's first lie. In a world where the whole concept of deceit or falsehood is completely alien, Mark finds that his new ability comes with some unexpected consequences.
This is a frequently funny romantic comedy with a fantasy edge, which allows Gervais to once more play the schlubby loser character that he does so well. As with the Jim Carrey comedy Liar Liar (1997) this deals with the fact that lying is sometimes essential, if only to maintain the social niceties. if we just went around saying everything that came to mind all the time with no filter, the consequences would be disastrous. It does have a surprisingly subversive edge, though, particularly in regard to religion, and there are moments of real emotion where Gervais demonstrates how good an actor he can be. The rest of the cast are all talented comedy performaers and keep the laughs flowing solidly, there are also plenty of entertaining cameos from the likes of Edward Norton, Jason Bateman, Philip Seymour Hoffman and regular Gervais collaborators Stephen Merchant and Shaun Williamson.
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