Comments on: TIFF: ‘The Invention of Lying’ – Good Concept, Poor Execution

By: Aknot

Aknot — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:55:35 +0000

JF,

I inquired about what was wrong with his directing. Im fine with your opinion and happy that at least you put across the point you are not to found of his comedy.

By: BloodSucking Leech

BloodSucking Leech — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:24:44 +0000

I don’t find this a valid review because you don’t like the star/writer to begin with, so this is more like you just venting. I think people would prefer a review from someone less biased against the subject matter.

Comedy is a very subjective thing, you’re right. And Monty Python is not everyone’s favorite cheese shop. (Happens to be one of mine.)

By: John H. Foote

John H. Foote — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:48:13 +0000

And Lowe is quite good despite having no character written for him — could Gervais have done that??

By: John H. Foote

John H. Foote — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:46:50 +0000

On Gervais — comedy is easily the most personal of film genres, and something that is different to each of us — an examaple, if you are walking down the street and fall, I am going to laugh out loud, I cannot help it, but those around me may not think it is funny — I find “The Life of Brian” to be hysterically funny, but my wife looks at me like I am from Mars as she hates it — I do not find Gervais funny…at all — I do not deny his talents, there are obviously those who like him very much, I am just not one of them — as for the review, I admit I did tend to review Gervais more than the film, but on the other hand, Gervais puts so much of himself in the film (keep in mind he is also co-directing)that I grew tired of him, therefore the film, very quickly — for the record Rob Lowe is quite good, and Jennifer Garner is wonderful as always — the film, stinks, and I still don’t find Gervais funny. To attack me for having an opinion is beyomnd idiotic, after all, we are all film critics are we not?

By: conbot

conbot — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:33:25 +0000

If you don’t get Ricky Gervais, then you most likely won’t enjoy a film that he wrote, directed and starred in.

This was a bad review.

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:28:16 +0000

Ricky Gervais is a very funny man and all his shows are great. If you don’t like him then that’s fine but do a review on the damn film next time instead of him.

By: INK

INK — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:27:34 +0000

That read more as a review of Ricky Gervais than it did a review of a movie. I thought a reviewer reviewed the movie and didn’t let his disdain, and yes it came across as disdain to me, of a person interfere with his take on a film?

By: Aknot

Aknot — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:32:40 +0000

John Foote,

Could you elaborate a little on this comment:
“he does little else right as a director here.”

Thanks

By: jordi

jordi — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:04:44 +0000

@chris

If you don’t agree with someone’s opinion that doesn’t automatically make them an idiot. After all, he can use capitals and punctuation…

By: jordi

jordi — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:49:39 +0000

Didn’t care for the Office but I liked his stand-up, observation humour mainly but quite intelligent at times as well. I think a lot of his appeal is his everyman image, not many in Hollywood look like people you meet in real life so maybe that’s his edge?

As you say comedy is a personal thing, in the Python series there was as much dross as gold imo.

By: Mycroft

Mycroft — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:15:15 +0000

The Office was brilliant, so I can more than understand his success. Extras was, even if not as good, still great. His podcasts and radio shows with Stephen Merchant and Karl Plinkinton are no less than hilarious for me, and I find his stand up acts quite good too. Now Ghost Town was just entertaining but he didn’t write/direct it, so I expect more of this one, even though i think he should stick to the small screen rather than Hollywood.