00s Movie Review - The Invention of Lying

Director: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson

Genre: Comedy/ Romance

Runtime: 100 minutes

Year: 2009

Starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Jonah Hill, Jeffrey Tambor, Tina Fey, Jason Bateman, Louis C.K

Description: A comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 26: A ROMANTIC MOVIE 

Review: The film is set in a world just like our, but with the only difference: mankind never “invented” lying. People just have jobs, children, a house, a car. But in the meantime they are 100% honest with each other. And one man, writer Mark, one day is somehow able to lie and uses it to help himself and others. Comedian Ricky Gervais wrote the story and directed the film. But also star in it.

I’ve always liked Gervais’ humor and I enjoy watching him in films. “The invention of Lying” is a fun film, with jokes that may or may not work for you. For me it did most of the time. I really liked the premise of the film and it played out well.

Rating: 3 / 5

TV Show Review - After Life (Season 3)

Season: 3
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Number of episodes: 6
Year: 2022
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Tom Basden, Tony Way, Diane Morgan, David Bradley, Kerry Godliman, Ashley Jensen, Penelope Wilton, Joe Wilkinson, Roisin Conaty, Ethan Lawrence, Jo Hartley    

Description: After Tony’s (Ricky Gervais) wife dies unexpectedly, his nice-guy persona is altered into an impulsive, devil-may-care attitude; taking his old world by storm.  

Review: “After Life” is one of the most beloved series on Netflix. I know it’s one of my personal favorites. And the third season from and featuring Ricky Gervais as the grieveing Tony does not disappoint at all.
Gervais tries to hardest thing with “After Life”: make a series about death that is also funny. The first season in particular succeeded wonderfully. We all laughed at one moment and felt tears roll down or cheeks the next.
In “After Life” Gervais plays Tony, a journalist for the local newspaper who has just lost his wife Lisa to cancer. For Tony, life doesn’t have to be after that. He’s unkind to everyone he meets and would prefer to die as soon as possible too. The only thing that stops him is his dog Brandy.
Over the seasons, through people who come his way, he comes to repentance. He finds a little more happiness each day. He helps others and finds meaning again. And all this without losing his morbid and hard-hitting sense of humor.
This was also the case in season 2 and the third season is pretty much a repeat of what we saw in the second series. But that does not take away from the fact that as a viewer you often laugh and cry at the same time. And that remains extremely clever. “After Life” is still a warm blanket that you want to wrap around you when life is not so great. Because there is always hope.
Even though it’s a repetition of movies, the final season focuses on side characters as well. With that “After Life” remains a series to love, mainly thanks to the great writing by Ricky Gervais and his excellent humor.

TV Show Review - After Life (Season 2)

Season: 2
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Number of episodes: 6
Year: 2020
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Tom Basden, Tony Way, Diane Morgan, Mandeep Dhillon, David Bradley, Kerry Godliman, Ashley Jensen, Paul Kaye, Penelope Wilton, Joe Wilkinson, Roisin Conaty

Description: After Tony’s (Ricky Gervais) wife dies unexpectedly, his nice-guy persona is altered into an impulsive, devil-may-care attitude; taking his old world by storm.

Review: Ricky Gervais has some undeniable talents. He can be considered the best in mocking Hollywood and its celebrities, like he showed us at the Golden Globes. But also has a lot of self-mockery, which you can see in his TV series “Extras”. And Gervais is a master in shamelessness, as he proved with “The Office”.
“After Life” was written and directed by Gervais and he managed to create a perfect mix of familiar elements from his previous work and newer elements. His character, Tony, is a widower and works for the local newspaper. He is cynical and sarcastic, but he himself is the one that eventually gets hit in the head. It has comical and dramatic effects, because the heart of the series lies with Tony and his love for his deceased wife and how he learns to deal with such a great loss.
Season one showed how Tony changed from a suicidal cynic to a more pleasant man, who found reason to live through the people around him. Season two makes clear he still has a long way to go to make life just a little more bearable. Even if the nice nurse that takes care of his father likes him, Tony misses his wife to much to start a new relationship. And whenever something slightly bad happens, he starts drinking.
The paper Tony works for is also struggling and his boss, who is also his brother-in-law has maritial problems. And the nurse he likes, got her eyes on another man, when in the meantime his postman wants to date Tony’s friend Roxy.
Like the first season, the humor is dark, the series has drama and the characters are great. I feel that the dramatic part overshadows the comedy a bit more in this season, that final episode made me cry so hard. But there is still enough humor there, that Gervais is known for.
“After Life” Season 2 doesn’t do anything different then its first season and I’m very okay with that. Because that was great and so is this season. I simply love Ricky Gervais and his show “After Life”, so much love for it.

TV Show Review - After Life (Season 1)

Season: 1
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Number of episodes: 6
Year: 2019
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Tom Basden, Tony Way, Diane Morgan, Mandeep Dhillon, David Bradley, Kerry Godliman, Ashley Jensen, Paul Kaye, Penelope Wilton, Joe Wilkinson, Roisin Conaty

Description: After Tony’s (Ricky Gervais) wife dies unexpectedly, his nice-guy persona is altered into an impulsive, devil-may-care attitude; taking his old world by storm.
Review: British comedian Ricky Gervais is know for his work on “The Office” “Extras”, “Derek” and his pessimistic stand-up shows. Gervais created, directed and stars in “After Life”.
Here he plays the depressed Tony. His wife died of cancer. The only thing left is a video message she made and their dog Brandy. Taking care of his dog keeps Tony from killing himself. But it’s clear he’s done with life. He is cynical about everything. His job at the local free newspaper doesn’t bring him any joy either, only bizarre stories.
But with all this darkness, there is a little hope. Tony finds a little bit of joy in his life. For instance a drug addict and his prostitute friend. He shows he’s has a human side. Him meeting a widow in the cemetery shows a different side of Tony as well. Since they share the feeling of grief. When Tony visits his dementing father, the nurse gets his attention. And a new co-worker brings a little light to Tony’s dark light as well. But his gloom and self-destruction stand in the way to making any progress.
It all sounds like a very dramatic series with dark themes. But the power of this series lies with Ricky Gervais and how he tackles it all with humor. It’s not a light series, it manages to move you, but has a constant dark humoristic side. Gervais is best in roles like this.
“After Life” has only 6 episodes in this first season, which are all about 30 minutes long. And it managed to tell a story that you care about and it’s super strong. I can’t wait to see season 2.

10s Movie Review - Muppets Most Wanted

Director: James Bobin
Genre: Comedy/ Adventure/ Family/ Musical/ Crime
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey, Ty Burrell, Zack Galifianakis, Tom Hiddleston, Ray Liotta, Danny Trejo, Christoph Waltz, Josh Groban, Céline Dion, Peter Serafinowicz, Usher Raymond, Salma Hayek, Stanley Tucci, Lady Gaga, Chloë Grace Moretz, Hugh Bonneville, Tom Hollander

Description: While on a grand world tour, The Muppets find themselves wrapped into an European jewel-heist caper headed by a Kermit the Frog look-alike and his dastardly sidekick.

Review: In 2010 The Muppets made their comeback with an amazing film that was filled with humor, emotion and great music. Off course there had to be another sequel, hoping for that same success.
In “Muppets Most Wanted” the Muppets go on a world tour, led by Dominic. They don’t know that Dominic actually has some evil plans, he is the right hand of Constantine, the most dangerous frog in the world and Kermit’s doubleganger. During the tour, Dominic makes sure Kermit and Constantine switch places. Constantine will tour with the Muppets and Kermit will be send to the Goelag. This way Constantine and Dominic can plan big heists in each city the visit.
The movie starts with a fun song about sequels, mocking Hollywood and themselves. Sequels are never as good, but bring in the money. This is also the fact for “Muppets Most Wanted”. It’s never the same level as “ The Muppets” from 2011. It’s still a fun movie, with lots of humorous moments and fun cameos. And the songs are fun too.
I likes Ricky Gervais as villain Dominic and I especially loved Ty Burrell as the French Interpol agent. And I have to admit, The Muppets always make me smile. No matter what.

Rating: 3 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 12: The Little Prince

Director: Mark Osborne
Genre: Animation/ Fantasy
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Paul Rudd, James Franco, Marion Cotillard, Jeff Bridges, Paul Giamatti, Ricky Gervais, Albert Brooks, Benicio Del Toro, Mackenzie Foy

Description: A little girl (Mackenzie Foy) lives in a very grown-up world with her mother (Rachel McAdams), who tries to prepare her for it. Her neighbor, the Aviator (Jeff Bridges), introduces the girl to an extraordinary world where anything is possible, the world of the Little Prince.

Review: “Le Petit Prince” is the most well-known book written by Antoine de Sainte-Exupéry. His books are still very loved. The story is filled with critical topics about society and is combined with childish naïve observance. And this is what is so great about “The Little Prince”: how it reaches youthful viewers, but also adults.
The girl that centrals the story lives in a grey, sober world. Order and rules and regularity rule and there is no room for possibilities and self-exploration. Her neighbor, The Aviator, lives in an old house and is seen as a rebel, that no one understands and isn’t accepted by the neighborhood. Both worlds come together, when The Aviator starts telling the girl the story of the Little Prince.
The film is brought to us with lots of fantasy and beautiful emotions. The film also combines computer animation with classic-romantic stop-motion techniques. The main message here is to let kids, stay kids for as long as possible. The tough, cold reality as an adult will eventually come. Let your creativity and playful nature finds its way.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 163: Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

Director: Shawn Levy

Genre: Comedy/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Family

Runtime: 98 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais, Dan Stevens, Rebel Wilson, Rami Malek, Ben Kingsley, Dick van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Boll Cobbs

Description: Larry (Ben Stiller) spans the globe, uniting favorite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever.

Review: In the newest adventure of night guard Larry Daley, the magical tablet has some malfunction. He has to find a solution to stop the corrosion on the tablet, else the magic of the museum will be gone. This leads him to a London museum, the only place the tablet can be fixed. This brings us some of the old characters we know from the previous two movies, but also some new characters. And the group being chased by yet another dinosaur skeleton isn’t very original.

The most painful jokes come from the Neanderthal Laa, who is the spitting image of Larry. It’s a second character played by Ben Stiller. It’s such a ridiculous role and it’s just not funny at all.

It’s clear that “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” is targeting a younger audience. It’s much of the same, director Shawn Levy didn’t change the formula. Where “Night at the Museum” was original, refreshing and fun, this third installment clearly isn’t.

Rating: 2/ 5