The trailer for the new Ricky Gervais film, "The Invention of Lying" premiered today.

http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/features/exclusive/

I'm a big fan of Ricky Gervais, but I'm not all that excited for this film.  I read the script awhile back and it played like a really long SNL skit.  I think my biggest problem with the script was that nobody really reacts to people telling them the truth, which I don't find all that comedic.  You'll see an example in the trailer when the waiter says he took a drink of her margarita.

Perhaps Gervais' comedic flair will add a lot to it, but it's looking pretty bleak for me.

I agree. I think the new name is "This Side Of The truth"

I think (I know actually, but I like to sound modest) it's called the Invention of Lying. It was called This Side of the Truth at some point, not anymore. And not the Intention of Lying either.

The trailer doesn't look that good, but I know there is definately potential for this film to be awesome and one of the best comedies of the year.

On Ricky's blog he said:

'J.J. Abrams (Star Trek Director) watched The Invention of Lying and said it was one of his favourite films. I know I shouldn't care what people think - some people will like it, some will hate it, and some won't care either way. But the reason I'm so excited in this instance is that I think J.J. is one of the most exciting directors out there at the moment. He's like the new Spielberg, and well, I was honestly blown away.

He also said...

Ricky Gervais proves, once again, that he is the master. Not only of comedy, but social commentary. 'The Invention of Lying' is as funny as it is biting, wholly original, and surprisingly moving. Is there such thing as an important comedy? Turns out there is, and this is it. If you're still reading this, you should stop immediately and go see 'The Invention of Lying!'"'

I am very excited for this.

Quoted from Tommyp I am very excited for this.

Like I said before, I'd be more excited if the script were actually funny.

Dressel, in terms of the characters in the script not reacting to the telling of the truth, it would wreck the realistic world of the film if they did react.

For example after the waiter said his line about the drink, if the lady was like, "Oh my God, I want a new drink then!! Geeeeez." The waiter would soon learn to lie when he sipped peoples drinks, and the whole film wouldn't work.

There have been so many jokes from people who tell the truth when they shouldn't... people who are too honest, and I think this film is looking at that from a completely different angle. It is fresh, smart, funny and works.

Quoted from Tommyp Dressel, in terms of the characters in the script not reacting to the telling of the truth, it would wreck the realistic world of the film if they did react. For example after the waiter said his line about the drink, if the lady was like, "Oh my God, I want a new drink then!! Geeeeez." The waiter would soon learn to lie when he sipped peoples drinks, and the whole film wouldn't work. There have been so many jokes from people who tell the truth when they shouldn't... people who are too honest, and I think this film is looking at that from a completely different angle. It is fresh, smart, funny and works.

The other thing that bothered me is that these people offer up this information without being asked.  What does that have to do with a world without lying?  I know it's just a comedy, but in a world without lying, that doesn't mean that we would just blurt out the first thing that came to mind.

Most of all, it just wasn't funny.  Which is important in a comedy.

Have you read the script?

Yeah good point about the information, but I'm hoping the world is set up so it seems natural. It obviously doesn't from the trailer.

I read 20 pages of the script but stopped as I didn't want to ruin it. I thought it was funny.

Anyway we will see what the world reaction is once it comes out :)

I've checked all over, how'd you two get the script?

Umm, I've forgotten actually. I looked at it quite a while ago. It's not on my computer, I opened it up in my browser. And I've deleted the history since then.

If I remember where I got the script I will get back to you.

Quoted from Aaron I've checked all over, how'd you two get the script?

Why, it was our very own SimplyScripts that posted the link! :-)

http://www.raindance.co.uk/site/index.php?id=45,3766,0,0,1,0

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I also read "Nottingham" and the first act of "Sherlock Holmes".  I wasn't impressed by either.

I think it looks very funny.  It's hard to say how people would react in a world where no one has ever lied to them.  Would they become numb to it?  If they didn't, then the world would be a smoldering ruin in fairly short order, I'd think.

Ricky Gervais alone may be a good enough reason to check it out.

Quoted from steven8 Ricky Gervais alone may be a good enough reason to check it out.

As much as I love Ricky Gervais, I'm actually more excited to see Louis CK in this.