The Invention of Lying

The movie is hysterical and brilliant. It doesn't take too long to realize it is set in the modern day, but in a world completely devoid of religion. People are inherently good because no one is capable of lying. They are literally phsycially incapable of lying, and believe 100% that everything everyone tells them is so. There aren't words for "truth" and "lie", everything just "is". The main character (Ricky Gervais of the British Office and my HERO) somehow tells a lie and doesn't understand how or why he did it. He needs $800 for his rent and only has $300 in his bank account. He tells the teller he has $800 in there and she apologizes profusely that their system was wrong. He slowly realizes that telling lies can help people feel better. His mother is dying and is scared to go into a world of nothingness, so he assures her after death she will go to a beautiful place with all the people she loves and a mansion to live in. (sound familiar?) It reassures her and comforts her and helps her die in peace. He feels good and happy that he was able to make his mom not so scared to die by making up a story about this great place you go when you die. The nurses and doctor (cameo by Jason Bateman? Don't mind if I do!) overhear him telling the story, and are incapable of NOT thinking it's 100% true so they alert the media who camp out at the main character's home, desperate to know more about what happens after you die. He works out an elaborate story, and becomes a bit of a messiah, claiming to have spoken to a big man in the sky who explained where they go when they die, what happens, how to get to this good place. It's really a hilarious jab at modern religion in my opinion. I'm probably biased not believing in religion, I can imagine people being really offended by the movie.I found it phenomenal. There were so many clever exchanges. Main character Mark tells his lifelong best friend his name is Doug and his friend responds "Whoa, how did I never know your real name?", then says he has one arm and he says "well your prosthetic is really great". LOL! Such a good time.

The cast is amazing. Every time you turn around there is a new huge star in a small role. Jason Bateman, Louis CK, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey, Jennifer Garner (who has a large role). It was just a great film in general. It was also a not very subtle commercial for Budweiser and Pizza Hut. I hope they got plenty of money from them! I walked out craving a frosty Bud and slice of pizza.