I'm always hollering about the lack of unique ideas coming out of Hollywood, so whenever I see a trailer for a film that isn't some sort of adaption, remake, sequel or prequel, I can't help but get excited and hopeful. So much so that I can even make peace with the fact that Jennifer Garner is supposed to be Ricky Gervais' love interest in the preview for The Invention of Lying and just be thankful that its premise seems extremely promising.
It's kind of like a reverse take on Liar Liar, eh? I'll admit that I didn't think the trailer was the most hilarious thing I've ever seen (though I did laugh out loud at the final line), but since I love love love Gervais' sense of humor and he, along with Matthew Robinson, wrote the screenplay, I'm willing to bet that this is a case where all of the best parts of a movie aren't actually given away beforehand. Besides, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Jeffrey Tambor, Christopher Guest and one of my biggest celeb crushes, Jason Bateman, all pop up in this Alternate Universe of Truth, on top of Patrick Stewart serving as "The Narrator" (which I'm really curious about since his voice wasn't heard in the trailer), so it's got to be at least halfway decent. Plus, Star Trek and Lost master J.J. Abrams saw The Invention of Lying in its entirety, loved it and has been singing its praises, and surely he wouldn't lie to us, right? I guess we'll find out when the rest of us can see it on September 25th.
Wow, that was brilliant! Such a simple concept and yet witty and original as far as I know.
Posted by: Jason | June 30, 2009 at 01:11 PM
Omg, where's the REST of Ricky! Someone get him a sandwich, he's going all Olsen Twin on us...
And don't forget my newest comedy hero, Martin Starr (Knocked Up, Adventureland) as the waiter!
But I am glad the rest of the world's going to get to see Gervais shine in something HE'S written. Night at the Museum aside, Ghost Town was a very nice little rom-com, but trying to sell the mostly-still-unknown Gervais as a romantic lead to the general public was an uphill battle. This is much more suited to him and should finally win him a huge audience in America, beyond those of us who obsess over the original Office and The Never-ending Torment of Karl Pilkington. (Imagine a Ricky so successful he could someday actually MAKE a movie centered on him, Stephen Merchant and Karl! On second thought, maybe he should NEVER get THAT successful...)
Posted by: Locke Peterseim | June 30, 2009 at 01:27 PM
Please fix the link for the "Trailer" for INVENTION OF LYING. All it will produce, as of July 1, is the trailer for MOTHER OF INVENTION. Not acceptable.
Posted by: Huspomike | July 01, 2009 at 08:46 AM
Huspomike -
Hmm, I just played the trailer above at 10 AM CT on July 1 and it's still The Invention of Lying... hopefully it is working now for you.
- Erika
Posted by: Erika Olson | July 01, 2009 at 09:58 AM