Ricky Gervais, creator of hit TV shows “The Office” and “Extras,” has another hit with his new movie “The Invention of Lying”. The movie is set in a world where lying doesn’t exist and everybody says the truth no matter how much it hurts.  

   In this world Mark, played by Gervais, is a mid-level movie scriptwriter who lives an average life. He then invents the concept of lying when he is fired and needs money to pay his rent. This concept helps him gain his job back by inventing fiction and creating the greatest movie ever written.  

  He then asks his crush Anna played by Jennifer Gardner out on a second date. On their date he is called in to his mother’s deathbed to help relieve her in her last minutes. He invents the concept of heaven and gains fame as doctors overhear him. 

  Gervais is perfect for this role as he uses his awkward British comedy mixed with his ability to have the viewer routing for him as odds are stacked against him especially when he crosses paths with the rude and ego filled Brad Kessler played by Rob Lowe. 

  The movie takes a religious satire turn as Mark invents the man in the sky and lists his commandments of his heaven on pizza boxes. Mark then achieves everything Anna would want besides him being good –looking.  

  Jennifer Gardner nailed the role of Anna as she contrasts Gervais and connects with the audience with almost childlike gullibility that is more heartfelt then the plain stupidity of Mark’s best friend and lovable sidekick Greg played by Louis C.K. of “Lucky Louie” and “Parks and Recreation”. 

  The movie is also full of talented actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman and Edward Norton making small guest appearances during comedic run-ins. They serve has a funny contrast to the romantic development of Gervais and Gardner.