Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Set in a world where the concept of lying doesn't exist, a loser changes his lot when he invents lying and uses it to get ahead.
The Invention of Lying has a genuinely clever high-concept premise — a world where everyone tells only the truth — that earns strong marks for novelty and yields sharp satirical comedy, particularly in its bold lampoon of religion's origins. Ricky Gervais and a game cast handle the comedic material with charm, though the romantic subplot and supporting roles feel underdeveloped. Visually, the film is functional at best, shot in a flat, unremarkable style that offers nothing distinctive. The ending deflates considerably, resolving the satire and character arcs in a predictably conventional rom-com fashion that undercuts the film's sharper edges.