The Invention of Lying [Blu-ray]
Warner Home Video DVD Release Date: January 19, 2010
Cast:
By Ken Shallcross
I am a huge Ricky Gervais fan. Naturally, I jumped at the chance to review
The Invention of Lying, his latest film and feature directorial debut on
Blu-ray. Though the film has a great premise, the execution quickly becomes a
blatant jab at religion - not that I am complaining. The Blu-ray disc offers an
average batch of supplements and digital copy to an average A/V presentation...
THE FILM:
Written and directed by both Ricky Gervais and Matt
Robinson, The Invention of Lying takes place a world where everyone tells the
blunt, honest truth; lies, fiction, imagination and the like don't exist. Every
thought, however humiliating or harsh, tumbles out unvarnished. One day, a
desperate unemployed screenwriter named Mark Bellison (Gervais) "said something
that wasn't." He doesn't even know how to describe it to his friends, as lies
and untruth do not exist. In this world, Mark's words are believed with total
and absolute gullibility. Mark can get anything he wants… but the one thing he
truly wants is the love of a girl named Anna (Jennifer Garner).
Halfway through
the film, Mark's mother dies. At her bedside, in an effort to comfort her, he
tells her about a great afterlife and a magical place she will go to when she
dies. Everyone in the room hears his story and the film turns into a plot to
parody the invention of religion and the absurdity of blind faith.
It's a good
little film. You won't crack up and laugh until your sides hurt, but you will be
pleasantly entertained for 100 minutes. But how's the Blu-ray release…
HD SOUND +
VISION:
The Invention of Lying is not necessarily
a film that desires a strong visual presentation. Nevertheless, the VC-1 encoded 1080p high
definition transfer is obviously better than standard definition. The 1.78:1 video is sharp in
contrast and luscious in color, but not all that impressive as
a Blu-ray disc.
The audio is presented in English Dolby 5.1
TrueHD. The track only shines when music from the soundtrack starts to play, as
most of the film is just dialogue. There are also standard
Dolby Digital 5.1
Surround tracks in French and Spanish. Subtitles are available in English,
French and Spanish.
PACKAGING/
LAYOUT:
The physical presentation of
The Invention of Lying is pretty simple and basic: blue
snapcase, cardboard slipcover, two discs, insert with digital copy instructions.
Menus are likewise basic and easy to
navigate. Nothing worth noting here...
The Invention of Lying runs 99 minute and
is split into 23 chapters.
SPECIAL
FEATURES:
The Invention of Lying has an OK bonus
features department - nothing thrilling. Contrary to what the box leads you to
believe, they are the same as the standard definition counterpart. There is no
audio commentary, but you do get deleted scenes, a blooper reel, three
featurettes and web podcasts. One annoying thing worth noting, the bonus
features are taken directly from the DVD, and are thus in non-anamorphic
standard definition. Horrible. Here's a look:
-
Prequel: The Dawn of Lying (6:30) - This was actually going to be
the opening of the film, but it was cut. The cast are dressed as cavemen, and
the concept of lying is born… or is it? Note: Karl Pilkington's cameo is here.
-
Meet Karl Pilkington (17:48) - The perfectly-round-headed, daft
friend/whipping boy of Gervais has a cameo in the film. This lengthy featurette
chronicles his experience working on a big Hollywood picture.
-
A Truly "Honest" Making-of Featurette (7:17) - Standard making-of
here, where cast and crew comment on the film. For entire last 3 minutes, the
cast tells of Ricky's infamous inability to keep a straight face and his very
unique laugh. " Additional Scenes (7:11) - There are four deleted scenes here to
watch with a "play all." they are okay and a couple of them help explain a bit,
but they are ultimately not missed.
-
Ricky and Matt's Video Podcasts (9:59) - Available with a "play all"
function are these four video podcasts that were originally available online.
One is a mock-style "Cribs" of the mansion in the film; one is having a laugh at
location scouting; Ricky reads local headlines about the film crew invading the
Lowell MA area in another; and finally, Ricky and Matt's assistant, Jake, gets
Nerf ambushed.
-
More Laughter: Corpsing and Outtakes (5:33) - Typical gag reel that
actually isn't all that funny.
-
Digital Copy
I'M NOT GONNA TO
LIE:
It's not the best film of 2009, nor is it
the best Gervais film, but The Invention of Lying does warrant a viewing. If you
are considering purchase, skip the Blu-ray disc; the bonus features are
identical and the better A/V transfer isn't really needed.
FILM SCORE: B-
HD SOUND: C+
HD VISION: B-
PACKAGING/ LAYOUT:
C+
SPECIAL FEATURES: C+
OVERALL BRD SCORE: C+
