"Invention of Lying" is clever in parts but fizzles gradually

Ricky Gervais, everybody's favorite Englishman, is back on the silver screen with his latest film, "The Invention of Lying." Gervais is renowned worldwide as the awful boss in the British comedy "The Office," a role currently played on American television by Steve Carell.

There has been much ado about Gervais' "comedy genius," but it's safe to say that his talent shines most brightly on the small screen ("The Office" and the "Extras" are hailed as classics).

"Invention of Lying" stars Mark Bellison (Gervais), a failing screenwriter, who lives in a world where no one has ever lied. The awfully truthful inhabitants of Bellison's town spend their days telling each other exactly what's on their minds: ranging from rare pleasantries to harsh sentiments, including "I have always hated you" and "You are a loser," directed at Bellison by his colleagues.

Bellison's already miserable fortune worsens one day when he is fired from his job, gets turned down by the date of his dreams (Anna, played by Jennifer Garner) and is threatened with eviction. While walking into a bank to withdraw the last $300 he owns, he tells the first lie ever told: Requesting a withdrawal for $800, the honest-to-goodness bank teller assumes that the lack of funds in Bellison's account is a mistake on the part of the bank, and not batting an eyelash, hands the cash over to Bellison without question.

And so begins Bellison's tangled web of deception, which he uses largely to improve his life and those of others. Things go swimmingly for Bellison (he even manages to spend time with Anna and get his job back) until his lying lands him in hot water and causes a national sensation. While bidding farewell to his dying mother in a nursing home and unable to cope with his mother's misery about facing "eternal nothingness," he attempts to soothe her worries about the afterlife, which he depicts as a rosy, perfect, happy place where everybody receives a mansion.

Having told one too many whoppers, Bellison makes headlines and copes with throngs of people camping outside his home who want to know more about "the man in the sky" and the glorious vacation that is the afterlife.

The premise of the story is very clever and there are moments of utter hilarity peppered throughout. "Lying" is also star-studded (literally): From Jason Bateman to Rob Lowe to Tina Fey, the Hollywood glitterati make appearances, largely thanks to Gervais' reputation as the current reigning funny man in showbiz.

However, an army of stars can't save the film from a predicable plot, which in the end comes down to the age-old and tired Hollywood storyline: Will the hero get the girl?

Given Gervais' popularity, fans will no doubt flock to "The Invention of Lying" and give it a thumbs-up, but the movie lags for the large part, which begs the question: When will Gervais and Stephen Merchant create another hit TV series? They both fare better on the smaller screen.

--Tara Taghizadeh--