I have got to hand it to Ricky Gervais--this is an extremely clever film. His acting is quite likable and there is a lot of originality to the film. However, at the same time, I think viewers should be forewarned--the film appears to have an agenda that is bound to offend many.
The film is a lot like a modern fairy tale and it starts on some sort of place just like Earth EXCEPT that here people are always honest. And while that sounds wonderful, it isn't, as people not only tell the truth but have absolutely no filtering mechanism--if they think it, they just say it. All too often, people are very cruel and completely self-centered. In the midst of this nasty world is Gervais--a nice but less than spectacular man who is lonely and about to become unemployed. To make things worse, many of the people tell him to his face that they hate him and are happy to see him go--after all, this is a 100% truthful and highly cynical world.
Into this bizarro world comes something completely unheard of--something that no one can understand or accept at all. Gervais has hit rock bottom when an epiphany occurs--he suddenly has been given the ability to lie. While this doesn't sound great, it can be, as he gambles and the people at the casino always believe him when he says he's won (even when he didn't) and people are surprisingly easy to manipulate.
After making a fortune at the casino, he then sets about getting his job back. He had been a writer for documentary movies that consist of a narrator reading about past events--they don't understand the concept of fiction, as this is not a truth! So, Gervais concocts a work of insane fiction involving aliens and ninjas and everyone naturally believes it--and he's a huge success as a screen writer. Then, he sets about trying to win back his love interest, Jennifer Garner. This part of the film is a tad weak, as although she is pretty, she is also 100% selfish and it's hard to imagine any guy wanting her...no matter how she looks. Because of this, though you know the film is going to be about him winning her, you really have a hard time connecting with this.
In the midst of his campaign to win her back comes a major wrinkle. His mother is in the hospital dying. She's scared, as apparently in this world there is no god or afterlife as they KNOW that there is only nothingness when you die. However, Gervais is heartbroken that his mother is so scared--so he makes up a grand lie about an afterlife--one that is pretty much the Judeo-Christian idea of heaven. Then, when others hear of this, the entire planet comes to a standstill--they MUST also hear about this afterlife they've never even contemplated. Then, in a panic, Gervais embellishes what he originally said--introducing the concept of an invisible man in the sky who both rewards and torments us. This cynical view of religion is bound to ruffle MANY people's feathers (provided they have feathers) and now I understand why my good friend, an atheist, highly recommended the film in the first place--it was a good film AND would challenge me and my preconceptions. As such, I wasn't particularly offended but could see that the writers did seem to have some contempt for religion---or at least that's how it appeared to me. Still, the film DID make me think, was wildly original and the acting by Gervais was lovely. Worth seeing--just be aware that it does have an agenda.
The film is a lot like a modern fairy tale and it starts on some sort of place just like Earth EXCEPT that here people are always honest. And while that sounds wonderful, it isn't, as people not only tell the truth but have absolutely no filtering mechanism--if they think it, they just say it. All too often, people are very cruel and completely self-centered. In the midst of this nasty world is Gervais--a nice but less than spectacular man who is lonely and about to become unemployed. To make things worse, many of the people tell him to his face that they hate him and are happy to see him go--after all, this is a 100% truthful and highly cynical world.
Into this bizarro world comes something completely unheard of--something that no one can understand or accept at all. Gervais has hit rock bottom when an epiphany occurs--he suddenly has been given the ability to lie. While this doesn't sound great, it can be, as he gambles and the people at the casino always believe him when he says he's won (even when he didn't) and people are surprisingly easy to manipulate.
After making a fortune at the casino, he then sets about getting his job back. He had been a writer for documentary movies that consist of a narrator reading about past events--they don't understand the concept of fiction, as this is not a truth! So, Gervais concocts a work of insane fiction involving aliens and ninjas and everyone naturally believes it--and he's a huge success as a screen writer. Then, he sets about trying to win back his love interest, Jennifer Garner. This part of the film is a tad weak, as although she is pretty, she is also 100% selfish and it's hard to imagine any guy wanting her...no matter how she looks. Because of this, though you know the film is going to be about him winning her, you really have a hard time connecting with this.
In the midst of his campaign to win her back comes a major wrinkle. His mother is in the hospital dying. She's scared, as apparently in this world there is no god or afterlife as they KNOW that there is only nothingness when you die. However, Gervais is heartbroken that his mother is so scared--so he makes up a grand lie about an afterlife--one that is pretty much the Judeo-Christian idea of heaven. Then, when others hear of this, the entire planet comes to a standstill--they MUST also hear about this afterlife they've never even contemplated. Then, in a panic, Gervais embellishes what he originally said--introducing the concept of an invisible man in the sky who both rewards and torments us. This cynical view of religion is bound to ruffle MANY people's feathers (provided they have feathers) and now I understand why my good friend, an atheist, highly recommended the film in the first place--it was a good film AND would challenge me and my preconceptions. As such, I wasn't particularly offended but could see that the writers did seem to have some contempt for religion---or at least that's how it appeared to me. Still, the film DID make me think, was wildly original and the acting by Gervais was lovely. Worth seeing--just be aware that it does have an agenda.