The premise of this film is quite interesting. It takes place in a world just like our own, it is modern day, people have regular jobs, they live in regular homes, but there's one huge difference. People can't lie. Not like it's against the law, it is physically impossible. It's just like in our world, people can't fly. In this film's world, people can't lie. As a result of this, there's no flattery just for the sake of flattery, there's no pleasantries when you aren't feeling pleasant, and there is no make believe, no movies or TV shows that are based entirely on fact. The biggest stars in this world are screen writers and readers who sit in a chair and read the fact based stories that the screen writers prepare. They are basically reading out of history books. This is high entertainment in this world. Well, one day, a slouchy, unlikeable loser, Mark Bellison, played brilliantly by Ricky Gervais (the British Office) after a terrible day in which he's been laid off and is unable to make rent, goes to the bank and suddenly lies about how much money he has. No one is the wiser because no one can lie. Mark decides to use this new found ability for his personal gain. He becomes rich and famous and gets the attention of the woman of his dreams Anna (Jennifer Garner) but in the process learns important life lessons and the importance of actually telling the truth.
I'm going to be honest. I wasn't totally bored with this movie, but I just felt like it was missing something. Like it was just a little too bland. I can't tell you how I would have made it better, I can just say I felt like it could have been. Ricky Gervais plays the same kind of dead pan loser that no one likes, that he always plays, and while I think he is hilarious when he hosts awards shows or does his stand up, I have yet to think he was funny in a movie. Jennifer Garner of course plays a beautiful, perfect idea of a woman, however, because she can't lie, you see a shallowness to her that sadly the majority of people may possess or at least think about. But regardless of her "flaws" in this movie, you still fall in love with her, just like you do in all of her movies. Rob Lowe is also in the movie as the handsome, obnoxious ass romantic rival to Ricky Gervais.
This movie is unique in the fact that, while it is a silly comedy, it deals with some pretty deep themes. There is the theme of "honesty" versus "lying." You see that sometimes, the best thing you can do is "lie." Or at least not tell the truth. You see the consequences of being brutally honest and the consequences of lying. The movie also deals with religion in an in-your-face kind of way. I am still a little confused about the religion aspect of the movie, because even though it appears at times that the movie is mocking religion and everything that you are told, it also seems to be telling people that faith and/or religion is a good thing, and gives people something to live for. I'd really like to hear other people's take on that aspect of the film.
Like I said, I didn't hate this movie, but I also wouldn't recommend you waste a rental on it. If it's on TV, then I would recommend you watch it, but otherwise I don't think this one is really worth that much of your time.
No comments:
Post a Comment