The Best Policy?
The Invention of Lying
Review by Ross Anthony

Having gotten quite a kick out of Ricky Gervais in Ghost Town, I looked forward to Lying. Plus, there's a long list of celebrity cameos from Ed Norton to Jonah Hill. Unfortunately, the star power does not save this rather messy effort. Ricky himself is endearing and even entertaining, but this not-so-near-miss parable has a focus problem.

Perhaps even a larger shortcoming, the surreal world experiment idea gets hijacked by a standard love story that has zero oomph. The film gives us no reason to believe that Ricky is interested in the Jennifer Garner character save for her great looks. The one moment in the picture where Garner shows any redeeming inner character (empathy for others) feels completely out of place, and certainly out of character. Yet, somehow, Lying struggles to opine that inner beauty is of greater value than outer. It just doesn't make sense.

Further, while the premise places us in a town where no one can lie, Garner tosses false smiles and apologies left and right. If she really weren't allowed to lie, she wouldn't say "Sorry" when her phone rings. Am I being to literal?

Lastly, the film isn't really all that funny. Honestly, I still enjoyed the ever-amusing Ricky Gervais, and there is an oddly emotional moving mom/son scene, but the film, sadly, isn't so amusing.

-- Books by Author/Illustrator Ross Anthony --


  • Coach. Copyright © 2009.
  • Starring Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Louis C.K., Tina Fey, Christopher Guest, Jeffrey Tambor, John Hodgman, Jonah Hill, Stephen Merchant, Stephanie March. Directed by Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson. Screenplay by Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson. Produced by Lynda Obst, Oly Obst, Ricky Gervais, Dan Lin at Warner Bros.

Grade..........................C+ (1/4)


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Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.


Last Modified: Thursday, 01-Oct-2009 19:28:37 PDT