The Invention of Lying Movie Review
‘The Invention of Lying’ is a 2009 fantasy romantic comedy. The American movie is written and directed by Rick Gervais and Matthew Robinson. The comedy is set in a world where no one has ever told a lie. All people are brutally honest, and no matter how harsh the comment is, people say the truth blatantly. In this world where everyone is honest, Mark Bellison suddenly develops the ability to lie. Since everyone is used to telling the truth, people around him believe what he tells them. At the time he discovers his ability to spin the truth, Mark is at a bad point in his life since he just lost his job, his landlord evicts him, and the woman he is interested in rejects him. When Mark discovers his deceptive abilities, he takes advantage and uses lies to get out of trouble. Mark’s unique skills enable him to pay his rent, become rich and get the attention of the woman he loves. One main scene in the movie is where Mark spins a tale to cheer his mother on her death bed. This lie is the turning point of Mark’s life since the story propels him to riches and fame. Several cinematic techniques have been used in the movie, especially in the death scene, that defines the quality of the film.
Romance
‘The invention of Lying’ is a fantasy romantic comedy. Therefore, from the genre of the movie, one expects some intense romantic scenes between the characters. However, the movie follows a familiar romantic cliché. In line with Lee, the romance at the heart of the film is not impressive. The movie follows the common trend where the romantics in the film live happily ever after. At first, Anna rejects Mark because of his social status, the typical rich girl, poor boy scenario. Then as Mark becomes influential, Anna gains interest in Mark. When the two people discover that their feelings are mutual, they take a lot of time to ignite their passion. The film follows a typical romantic-film trend when Mark breaks off the wedding of Anna, and they both confess their feelings for each other. Later, Mark and Anna seem to live happily ever after with a son who takes after Mark. In the aspect of romance, the film did not quite bring out a fascinating romantic journey between Mark and Anna. Instead, the film followed a happily ever after romantic cliché.
The film, however, brings the aspect of love between Mark and his mother. When Mrs. Bellison receives news of her near demise, Mark is torn when he sees how sad his mother is. Mark uses his lying ability to cheer his mother. Due to the love that Mark harbours for his mother, he tells her a lie to comfort her in her death. The scene depicts a special moment between a mother and her child. Also, the scene portrays pure love between a child and his mother as Mark sheds a tear as he explains to his mother of the beautiful afterlife awaiting her upon death.
Comedy
The comedy in the film takes the form of satire. The characters in the movie use humour to criticize others as well as talk about their feelings. The film shocks us with our brutality since the truth doesn’t hurt; instead, the honest comments in the film encourage our inner bully, coaxing it out for giggles (Dargis). When the film begins, Anna blatantly tells Mark that she is not thrilled about the date and she is going on a date as a favour. Mark does not take offence in the remark; instead, he continues the conversation. Mark warns Anna that their date is not in an expensive restaurant since he just lost his job. The truth said in the film is mostly crude remarks about reality. The comedy in the movie, however, is not made in funny statements like in other comedy movies. The comic is based on crude, honest remarks made by the characters. Therefore, the comedy in the film is mostly satirical.
Theme
The theme in ‘The Invention of Lying’ is unclear. The setting of the film is in a world where people do not lie. However, when one man discovers his ability to spin the truth, the whole world gets carried away. It is unclear what morals the movie advocates for. At first, the movie advocates for honesty, where everyone tells the truth. However, people do not think before uttering words; instead, they speak whatever pops into their minds. For instance, when Anna first meets Mark, she tells him that she was masturbating and Mark responds that he is thinking of her vagina. Anna also says to Mark that he is unattractive and his genetic material is poor due to his snub-shaped nose. Although people are telling the truth, it is not well processed, which makes it seem that people who tell the truth do not have love (CBN). The uncertainty is echoed when Mark spins a lie to comfort his dying mother. Therefore, it is unclear what truth in the movie stands for.
The film portrays moral ambiguity between truths and lies. Mark does not suffer any consequences because of his actions (CBN). Throughout the movie, Mark reaps from his lies as he becomes rich and ends up with the woman he loves. Therefore, the film seems to pass a message that lying is a good thing that makes the world a better place. It is against societal morals to be dishonest — however, the movie advocates for lying.
Cinematic techniques in the death scene
The death scene is one of the most critical scenes in the movie. The death scene serves as a bridge in the life of Mark. The scene uses a mid-shot camera technique. The mid-shot method contains the characters from the waist up. Based on the mid-shot, viewers can see the faces of the characters more clearly as well as observe non-verbal cues. In the death scene, the viewers can see the face of Mrs. Bellison. From her face, it is clear that she is scared of death and the eternity of nothingness that comes after death. The shot explains why Mark found it necessary to lie to his mother and comfort her. Also, from the same shot, the viewers see how the afterlife lie comforts Mrs. Bellison. The old lady smiles in her death after the comforting lie. The mid-shot in this scene shows how scared Mrs. Bellison was before how the myth by Mark eased her tension.
The character expression in the death scene evokes emotions. The picture of an old lady at her death bed with her son by her side evokes sadness. Mrs. Bellison is crying to her son because she is scared. As Mark tells his mother of the beautiful afterlife that awaits her, he cries since he knows it is a lie. At the moment, people can justify Mark’s reasons for lying since he only lied to comfort his dying love. Based on the emotions of the characters in this scene, it becomes evident that sometimes, the truth can be concealed to avoid hurting people.
In conclusion, the film ‘The invention of lying’ relays moral ambiguity. Although societal morals advocate for honesty and integrity, the movie champions deception and lies. Since Mark never faces the consequences for all the lies he told, it is unclear whether society advocates for honesty or deception.
Works Cited
Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). The invention of Lying . 9 July 2019 <https://www1.cbn.com/movies/invention-lying-movie-review>.
Dargis, Manohla. A World Where Truth Turns Out Not to Be Beauty. 1 October 2009. 9 July 2019 < https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/movies/02invention.html>.
Lee, Hiram. The Invention of Lying: Telling the truth, or some of it. 20 October 2009. 9 July 2019 <https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2009/10/inve-o20.html >.