'The Invention of Lying'

'The Invention of Lying' (PG-13) 3 Stars

Writers and Directors: Matthew Robinson, Ricky Gervais
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey, Louis C.K., Jonah Hill

What a premise "The Invention of Lying' has! The trick is if the movie can sustain an original and brilliant concept and it mostly does. The movie depicts a World where no one can tell a lie and what an opening this movie has. The first hour is blisteringly funny as we listen in on all the people who have to tell the truth. This is a smart and wonderful screenplay and the credit mostly goes to Gervais. He is the British comedian who created and starred in the original version of the television show "The Office". He is a brilliant comedian and writer. Watch some of his stand up comedy and you will bust a gut and will be laughing long and hard at his material. Here though he has to service a story and in his other movie "Ghost Town" he had a weak and Hollywood safe story. "The Invention of Lying' is a different story and a little more out there and original like Gervais's comedy. He is also a very likable guy and we want to root for him even though he is supposed to be out of the league of Jennifer Garner's character. I have had a huge crush on Jennifer Garner and I was projecting her to become a major star but her choices have been beneath her. But in "Juno" she broke my heart in a superb performance and here I think is the best performance of her career. Garner can play sexy but here she is reigned in as a down to earth beauty. I think her hair and makeup in the movie are great and add to the character. We do believe after awhile that Gervais is in her league because they are both nice people and nice people should be together. The second half, when the romance kicks in, dulls some of the biting humor later but it is a sweet love story and the movie still maintains it's sharpness and laughs. I look forward to seeing more of Gervais in movies. He deserves to have a good career.