The Invention of Lying

The Invention of Lying has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. With 2,344 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Ricky Gervais sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Start it whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason The Invention of Lying keeps coming up in conversation. The Invention of Lying does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. Set in a world where the concept of lying doesn't exist, a loser changes his lot when he invents lying and uses it to get ahead. Ricky Gervais and Jennifer Garner lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2009. What keeps The Invention of Lying from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, The Invention of Lying respects your intelligence. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Ricky Gervais sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.