The Invention of Lying
What would it be like if you lived in a world where people were unable to lie?
Have you seen The Invention of Lying with Ricky Gervais and Jennifer Garner (and many other famous actors)? That is essentially the plot – no one lies – everyone is brutally frank and honest. Things like fiction and religion do not exist. People say exactly what is on their mind. The words “lie” and “truth” don’t even exist in their vocabulary.
And oh my goodness – it is so funny. The dialogue and random spurts from the characters completely cracked me up. If you like films that make fun of society, you* will love this one (but… if you are offended by films that poke fun at religion, you will dislike it).
The plot of the film is simple, but it delivers a very strong message. It really got me thinking.
In the beginning of the film, the main character, Mark (played by Gervais), is a bit down on his luck. He knows he is getting fired, his mother is dying, and he goes on a date with the woman of his dreams – but – she tells him she thinks he is fat and ugly, there are no prospects for a second date, he doesn’t make enough money, and that she is only at dinner with him as a favor for a friend. She tells him flat out – she’s out of his league.
He gets fired at work, and his coworkers (Rob Lowe and Tina Fey) proceed to tell him that they never liked him, they think he’s a loser, and he’ll never succeed in life. Harsh, but I guess that is what people say when they cannot lie!
Through a funny encounter (which I won’t spoil for you!) Mark figures out how to lie. At first he uses it to help himself and other people, but eventually, he uses it to create fame and extreme wealth for himself. Oh yes, and to create religion.
He ends up becoming close friends with the woman of his dreams, Anna, but even though she calls him her best friend, she is still shallow and will not date him. Like everyone else, she only sees people artificially – as who they appear to be. She is only looking for a “genetic match.” So, despite having fame and wealth, Anna still will not date Mark. You will have to watch the film to see how it all ends!
The story was very interesting, and really got me thinking about a few things:
- What would it be like if you lived in a world where no one lied, or really, where people didn’t withhold their true feelings? It would be so freeing to be able to stay whatever was on your mind, and people would certainly toughen up… but would there be any negative consequences? I hate to say it, but some things are best left unsaid. The people in the film are so harsh to one another. I don’t think we should live in a false reality, but I also don’t think every evil thought that crosses my mind should be spoken.
- What would it be like to live in a world without fiction? In the film, the “movies” are all just someone reading about history. What if we didn’t have art, theater, music… creative expression?
- What if relationships were only based on genetic matching (looks) and money? It could have the potential be completely unsatisfying!
- What if people forever treated you based on their initial perception of you? Now, that isn’t too far-fetched – I think it happens now. But in the film, everyone does it. If you appear to be a loser, you will forever be a “loser,” no matter what you do.
- What if religion was non-existent? How would people change if they didn’t have something to believe in, and tell them the difference from right and wrong?
Have you seen this film? What do you think – does it seem like one you would like to see? Do you have any thoughts on my questions listed above?
*I am thinking this is a film that Andrew, Diane, Erin, Kim** and Nilsa would like.
**Too funny, I was catching up on posts, and sure enough, Kim has seen it already!
Themocracy
So glad you gave this movie a good review– I really wanted to see it when it came out, but I missed it! I’ll have to put it on our list of things to rent!
Let me know if you love it or hate it! 🙂
I don’t think I’ve heard of that movie, but it sounds like one I would like. Good questions you raised… We probably tell more little fibs that we realize either to avoid difficult conversations or to spare someone’s feelings. Its interesting to think of what it would be like if no one did that.
Yup, I would probably like to see this movie.
However, I think maybe it is unrealistic to assume that if we couldn’t lie things would always be this harsh and superficial (it’s a movie so of course it’s a little exaggerated :)). Of course, I totally agree with you, not everything needs to be said, but I guess that seems different to me than lying. Sort of it seems possible to just not saying anything if you can’t think of something nice to say. I’m thinking more about hypocrisy…no need to pretend to be someone’s best friend, no need to tell them you hate them either…just don’t be their friend…I’m sure you get what I mean.
I totally get what you mean! I thought about that when I was writing. These people aren’t really “Not Lying” – they are just being nasty to one another! Maybe the film title should have been different!
I’ve seen this movie! It was hilarious 🙂 Honestly, I think lying is necessary. Sometimes a lie can make a person feel better without affecting them in the long run. I.e. if a person is sick and you say they look great…or if someone slaved over cooking a meal and even though you thought it was aweful,you say it’s pretty good. That kind of stuff.
I totally do stuff like that. I try to be as sincere as I can, but you can tell when someone needs a comment to brighten up their day!
I saw this movie— it was so funny and an interesting topic to think of. My friend and I had a huge discussion about it afterwards 🙂
I’ve been wanting to see this! Totally going to check it out.
oh i want to rent this badly! i didn’t hear much about it when it was in theaters so i assumed it wasn’t stellar, but it sounds rght up my alley! i’ll definitely be grabbing this next timeim at the video store (after paying my late fines..boo)
I thought it looked lame from the trailer! I was pleasantly surprised!
This movie looks right up my alley! Weird because I didn’t hear about it when it was in the theaters? I am definitely going to have to find it on PPV.
I think lying is sometimes necessary. If I see a person who looks like they could use a compliment, I will find something to compliment, even if it isn’t necessarily true. I think this kind of lying is forgiveable. 🙂
sounds like i would really like this movie! i love all things social-experiment-ish related. it also reminds me a little bit of the book The Giver.
thanks for the suggestion! i wonder if elliot will like it. we will def watch it!
LOVE LOVE LOVE The Giver. LOVE IT. Steven has never read it! I think it is such an interesting story.
I haven’t seen it, but it seems like a film that I would either like or hate, depending on my mood. I tend to be a bit cynical and enjoy biting humor, but I don’t love “The Office” like so many people I know do, so it could be a toss-up.
Like others, I don’t think that it would be great if people were completely uncensored/unfiltered. I don’t pretend to like everyone with whom I’m work, but I think that a certain level of civility and decorum is appropriate, especially in the workplace.
Finally, I don’t think that religion determines a person’s moral and/or ethical compass. There are plenty of religious people whom I would call unethical and even immoral, and there are atheists and agnostics who adhere to a very high ethical standard. That may be an unpopular view in this country, but I’m okay with that.
Hi Kristina! Thanks for commenting! I love meeting new bloggers!
I also don’t like the Office (or much TV) and am very touch and go with movies I like. I was in the perfect mood to see Zombieland when I saw it in the theater and LOVED it, but I wonder if I would have seen it on a more somber day, would I have been annoyed? Anyway, I hear ya. 😉
And I hope I did not imply that I think you have to be religious to have morals or be ethical. I think there is a wide mix of people, believing many different things. I wish I could write more about that on my blog actually, but I think… I would lose many readers 😉
Ooops – I posted my wrong website address. Just in case you want to check it out. Ha.
I watched about 1/3 of the movie before I was tired and turned it off. Some parts were funny to me but it wasn’t enough to keep me interested. I mean, I know they could only tell the truth but does that also mean saying everything that’s on your mind? I guess in the movie it does.. or maybe I’m just over-analyzing something that was meant to be simple.
The idea is cool though but I am SO glad that I don’t have to tell the truth all the time. It would be refreshing to tell the truth sometimes but then again.. a lot of people would be getting their feelings hurt.
LOL. Ha ha. Yeah, in the beginning, I wondered if it was going to be all humor based on their outlandish comments! I was happy the story went somewhere. It was still told in a silly manner though.
Yeah. If I had to say what I really thought… well, I actually do that a bit too much right now. I need to keep my mouth shut sometimes.
i cannot tell a lie – i saw the film in the theaters with high hopes and was disappointed.
LOL! Thank you for your honesty! Everyone has different taste in movies. 🙂 There are some movies Steven’s family loves and I just cannot stand. That is why there are so many 🙂
They actually had this movie on my flight out to Mexico. I wanted to watch it, but Brooke wasnt for letting me watch a movie in place of entertaining her.
As for lying, the interesting thing is that we are BORN with the ability. Little kids start lying way before they have the ability to understand the idea behind it – its human nature 😉
Ha ha. Good point. I wonder if there have been studies done on how children figure out how to lie. It probably has a lot to do with shame and avoiding embarrassment.
I want to see this one; it’s on my list 🙂 Glad to hear you liked it… I’m sure I will too!
I haven’t seen the movie, but I’d like to!! I have zero patience to sit still for that long, though… ’tis a constant problem.
Honestly, though it’s nice in theory to exist in a world without lying, it would probably be kind of hurtful since people are so nasty!! :p
<3 <3
I have problems sitting through movies too. I actually sat through this one all the way until I turned my computer on. Yay!
We watched this movie a week or two ago and I enjoyed it–the husband not as much. I think it ended up being too sweet for him.
The non-lying world depicted was incredibly depressing. I do think some things are best left unsaid, or at least softened.
We rented this movie because there was nothing else. I wasnt expecting to like it at all. It was hilarious! I loved it.
Life would be so different if no one could lie. They really made you think about that with this movie eh? Saying whatever you thought, nomatter what it was. There are some things I prefer to keep to myself. lol
Also, the movies would SUCK!
Oh this sounds fun! I wish more people were open and honest. Not harsh but if you ask someone a question more honest thought-out answers would benefit everyone. I have no desire to pop out a kid so genetic matching wouldn’t make sense for me. And in all honesty, if we could live in a world without religion, I think we would be so much better off as a society.
We should talk more… about every comment you made 🙂 I think we are on the same page with quite a few things 😉
I loved that movie!!! I think people lie too much today, but at the same time sometimes giving a compliment such as “you look really beautiful” on a sweats and T-shirt kind of night/day will mean something BIG for that person….it could make someone’s day but I think lying has gotten way out of hand!
Hehe, as you know, I love this movie! I was telling my husband that I think lying is a survival skill. I’m pretty sure it’s one of the first things you learn as a child. “Have you brushed your teeth?” your mom asks; “Yes,” you say, no matter what. Lying seems like a natural extension of imagination. Being that I’ve written fictional stories since I learned to write, I can’t imagine not being able to stretch the truth!
I liked this movie, but I really wasn’t expecting all the religious undertones. I went to see it opening weekend so I had no idea what to expect. That said, I would probably fit in better in a world where everyone was honest — I have spent most of my life trying to find my filter and often failing. 🙂 But I would be really sad if there was no creative expression. I’d definitely be out of work, for one, and the world would have a lot less sparkle. As for a world without religion, I fully believe people would find something to believe in and something to fight about, no matter what.
I’ve not seen this movie yet (it just arrived 2 day ago via Netflix), but in answer to a couple of your questions…
– removing the ability to lie would be difficult. You would have to learn how to be generic in answering some people. Sometimes people leave out bits of pieces of a conversion with someone else for fear or concern of offending. Also, so much for keeping a secret surprise party quiet if probing questions come up where you have to evade the truth.
As for the no religion, as a non-religious person, I personally feel that religion is used as a wedge to divide for some. If people were to just be nice to others and treat people with respect without having to use religious belief as a reason to do that, I think we would have less discrimination and division.
That is what bothers me and Steven – why do people need someone else to tell them to be nice to others?