The Official "Invention of Lying" Thread

[it's_a_foodage]

Not available in my area, and it features Kermode. Just sum up for me, plz.

Ricky Gervais is inherently funny.
It passes the Kermode comedy test with "5 laughs and 7 titters"
However it's not the Woody Allen film that it wants to be and as the laughs fall away towards the end the high concept falls down a bit.
The central romance is flat.
It's not terrible but he was disappointed.

[ike]

Don't think this one has been posted yet, but I was reading the Metro paper today, as you do if you're on the train to London, and read the review of Invention of Lying. They didn't take too kindly to it either.

http://www.metro.co.uk/metrolife/films/ ... page_id=27

That said, go in with (very) low expectations and they may just be surpassed

Hoping to see this movie next week if I get a chance.

[wetknee]

I reckon Kermode will say the film is decent but nothing special. For fear of hurting Ricky's feelings.

Ricky Gervais is inherently funny.
It passes the Kermode comedy test with "5 laughs and 7 titters"
However it's not the Woody Allen film that it wants to be and as the laughs fall away towards the end the high concept falls down a bit.
The central romance is flat.

Seems about right. :D

[Rickydiculous]

First of all, I wish that I had not read any reviews of this film before seeing it. They were so rittled with spoilers that I knew almost every plot development. Grrrrr.

But I must say that I do not feel like this film deserves the criticism it's getting. It seems as though people spent the majority of the time thinking about ways the concept doesn't work rather than just accepting it for what it is and going with it.

I thought there were some good points. I thought Ricky did well overall, both comedically and dramatically, and the scene with Steve and Barry made me so happy. I also liked the romance story although I thought it was weird they didn't kiss.

The one problem I had was that it seemed like they tried to pack a few too many jokes in at one time making all the jokes watered down in the long run.

Overall, I enjoyed it and so did my friends, but I thought that Ghost Town was better.

[Christina]

thinking about ways the concept doesn't work rather than just accepting it for what it is and going with it.

This is what I will do and I make no apology for it. If you wanna make what you're going to call a 'high concept' film then make sure the film actually follows the concept you've laid down for it. If you wanna make it a world where nobody lies then that's what it is. But if you want to make it the "unworkable" blurting out the truth thing then I think it needs to be a bit more watertight than it seems to be.

I won't be seeing this for a while (it's not even listed as 'coming soon') but I know it will be hard for me to move beyond the 'this doesn't make sense' thing.

P.S. 'You' in this context is obviously not you, RD. You're brilliant and would never make a film that can be picked apart from the trailers.

I thought that Ghost Town was better.

Uh oh.





Proper P.S. I hate quoting posts with spoilers in 'em. I need to learn that I'll see the spoiler once I try and quote it. Silly Christina.

[Mrs neil.wood]

but seriously guys, this is the guy who co-created The Office and Extras. And now he's created this generic, unfunny, poorly directed film

Noooo, i almost went all 12 pages without someone comparing it to the office.


Went with the misses, we both loved it.

I wont bother with too long a review cos it's all been said. Just a couple of points.

It's hard to find Jennifer Garner's character likable because of her bluntness and rude comments. I know it's the point of the film for her to speak her mind, but it just makes it hard to warm to her.

The bit with his mum was amazing, never seen him actually cry like that.


One thing drove me crazy, and i'm not going to spoiler it cos i want an answer -

What the fuck happened to Patrick Stewart doing the voiceover?! Did i miss something?

P.S first film i have ever been to that got a round of applause, maybe it was cos it was the first time i went on opening day. Bit weird though.

Edit: GOD DAMMIT, i did it again. Once again this is neil.wood posting. Sorry guys.

[Biblops]

Well I wasn't comparing it with The Office at all, I'm just saying, for a man with such an impressive resume of excellence in comedy, this film is pretty damn poor.

[Mrs neil.wood]

Well I wasn't comparing it with The Office at all, I'm just saying, for a man with such an impressive resume of excellence in comedy, this film is pretty damn poor.

Fair enough.

[Nill Demand]

Did you just do it again? Haha.

[Mrs neil.wood]

Did you just do it again? Haha.

That one was just laziness. Can't be arsed to sign out. It's cos she plays The Sims 3 on mine cos hers is too slow for it. Then i forget she's logged in to Pilkipedia as her cos i'm so used to just clicking on the link and posting stuff.

Anyway,

Back to TIOL.

n.w

[Brent Hogwell]

Here's Kermode on BBC News 24, same sort of vibe as 5live.
You'd wonder how closely he was watching it when he says Bellison learned to lie when his mother was dying but maybe he was just simplifying:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8288144.stm

And here's possibly the most positive one yet, 4 stars from the Guardian. Unlike many of the reviewers, this guy is hugely taken with the satire on religion bit, describing it as subversive and radical: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/oct ... ing-review

[Barrylad]

Pilkipedia's own film buff/critic man Castor just told me on Facebook he found it interminable.

[Midget Fighter 11]

I just hope the only comedy in it isn't the dumb calling Ricky fat shtick.

[Dimus Mancoid]

For anyone in Australia......it will be out on November 25th.

I think that I might just watch it on DVD! I didn't like Ghost Town and the fact that some people think that Ghost Town is better than this is worrying.

[Dimus Mancoid]

Daily Mail review 2/5

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/re ... armth.html