Lying is something we all do, whether you notice it or not. What if we lived in a world without lying though? How different would things be? Welcome to the alternate reality that Mark Bellison lives in, a world in which no one can tell a lie. That is, until Mark becomes the first person in history to do so…

In this world, everyone tells exactly what is on their minds. This means that they all trust each other and believe what is said. It also means that everyone is frank so if they have something negative to say about you, they’ll tell it to your face and not give it a second thought.

Mark (Ricky Gervais) is your average writer but things start to go downhill when he is fired from his job. Suddenly, he gets the urge to say something that isn’t and thus, the lie was born. This proves to bring Mark much success and money so he continues to use this “power” to his advantage as no one else can lie. Eventually, things begin to snowball as his lies get larger and larger. Now he must find a way to fix everything and return to a sense of normalcy.

Initially, The Invention of Lying is hilarious. The film begins with a first date between Gervais and Jennifer Garner. The Beauty and the beast couple are forced to tell the truth so you can imagine what is going through both their minds. What’s awkward for them is quite humorous for us.

As the movie progresses, Mark gets a handle on what he can do with his newfound ability. He begins to learn that there’s more than just what can be seen and heard. The development of his character is very interesting. Of course, some could say the film is simply one big lesson for us to learn about lying and telling the truth.

One of the things that surprised me was the different actors that made appearances in the film. Jonah Hill, Tina Fey, Jason Bateman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and even Edward Norton all have a cameo. It was great to see them, even if it was just for one scene. They added a nice variety to the humor of Gervais.

The Invention of Lying is a fun movie to watch. While it doesn’t keep up the strength it has in the beginning, it’s much better than the last film he starred in, Ghost Town. It’s a cute little movie that will have you laughing with a touch of compassion.