Toronto Film Festival Review: The Invention of Lying

A lot of the time, a comedy with a simple gag is called "a one-joke comedy." That one idea, that one joke can either be an iron-strong spine that makes a comedy quick, buff and brilliant, or a cage that make it feel trapped, tiny and weak; it all really depends on the execution. The one joke in White Chicks -- two male, Black FBI men have to pose as Caucasian heiresses -- is not, in fact, that funny, and the makeup magic behind the premise isn't enough to support a film. The one joke in 50 First Dates -- a young woman's neurological condition of a constantly re-set memory makes it hard for a man who loves her -- is sweet and simple. And the one joke in Groundhog Day - a man repeats the same day over and over -- is well-executed enough to make it a comedy classic.

In that one-joke sub-genre, The Invention of Lying winds up being a welcome addition. It has one joke, yes -- it takes place in a world of absolute and constant truth where one man figures out that you can, actually, say things that are not true -- but that joke's so well-executed by co-writers and co-directors Matthew Robinson and Ricky Gervais, with Gervais playing our first liar, that it winds up being a smart, silly and actually thought-provoking comedy. While it isn't perfect, it is certainly bold and bizarre enough to make it worth seeing as a swift, smart standout in a movie marketplace where so many comedies are gutless, brainless husks. The Invention of Lying mixes American brashness with British dryness; maybe that's why its debut in Canada -- a nation, culturally, still somewhere between those two comedy superpowers -- this week at the Toronto International Film Festival seems so appropriate.

Gervais plays Mark, a perfectly average guy, and as he and Jennifer Garner's Jennifer go on a date, we glimpse their world in action. Everything people say is true, and they also don't seem to have much of a filter between their brain and their mouth: Their waiter notes "I'm embarrassed I work here," while Garner keeps reminding Gervias "I'm out of your league. …" Mark's lonely, about to get fired and not loving life -- but, out of necessity, he tells not only his first lie but the first lie. … And just as Groundhog Day didn't knock itself out explaining why Bill Murray was looping in time, The Invention of Lying doesn't knock itself out discussing why Mark's suddenly the first and only liar; that would burn up time the movie instead spends on funny, fast cameos and Mark re-inventing his life and career armed with the power of lies. And then as his mother (Fionnula Flanagan) lies dying, terrified that she's headed for an "eternity of nothingness," Mark uses his new power to tell her something nice. And winds up telling her about Heaven.

And this is where The Invention of Lying gets interesting, as Mark then has to explain where and why Heaven is, and who created it, and the rules for getting there. … And this is funny stuff. ("There's a man in the sky? What does he look like?" "Tall … big hands?") But it's also interesting stuff, because it's plainly demonstrated that Mark's ideas make the world a better, more hopeful place, even if they're not true. And it's not like the film only beats that plot point like a drum, either; Mark's still trying to convince Jennifer that he loves her and that she loves him, even though it is true they're not the best genetic match -- or, as she says, "We'd have fat, snub-nosed babies. ..."

Gervais, who you may know as the co-creator and star of the original version of The Office, works remarkably well here, and gets to riff a little more than he did in his previous leading role, Ghost Town -- a little charming but a little clueless, his every step either a swagger or a slouch. Garner's comedy skills aren't used to their fullest like they were in 13 Going on 30, but she's still welcome in the mix. And the supporting cast -- including Louis C.K., Jeffery Tambor, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, Christopher Guest and a couple of cameos too good to spoil reads like a "Who's Who" of 20th century comedy. The Invention of Lying is smart, yes, but smart isn't the only thing it is. It believes in kindness and goodness and love and honesty, even if those things are tucked among brilliant bits like a plain-spoken Coke ad in a world where no one can exaggerate or flatter or brag: "I'm Bob; I work for Coke, and I'm asking you to not stop buying Coke." The Invention of Lying isn't quite as perfect as Groundhog Day, but it's better, smarter, kinder and funnier than most other comedies you're going to see this year, and while I can't help but think it's going to provoke everything from arguments to discussions, better to have a film promote those things than the boredom and blandness most big comedies feel content to offer in the name of easy laughs.

Comments

[Mindy]

Really, REALLY looking forward to seeing this movie. Ricky Gervais is hilarious. Great write-up!

[Livia]

I really want to see this film when it comes out, well maybe I will see it.

I have seen previews of this film, The Invention of Lying a million times when I saw other films in the theatre. It looks good and iffy, and I hope if it has a plot if I see it.

It looks stupid to me but it actually looks like a decent film that I might like. Right now, I have a list of movies that I want to see and this is one is on my list.

[John Allen]

Shawshank Redemption.