I have to say, we do like Ricky Gervais chez Otter. We thought the TV series Extras was great, and Ghost Town was so much better than any of us expected that I was really looking forward to seeing this. Mr. Otter and I actually went downtown to see it (something we generally avoid like the plague.)

And, well, it did not live up to expectations.

It started off very well: Gervais is a scriptwriter in this world where there is only the truth, so 'movies' are actually films of boring readers reading historically factual stories. Everyone he meets, including the girl he really likes and finally gets to date, says baldly truthful and unflattering things to and about him. Then, in a moment of desperation, he figures out how to/that he can say something...UNTRUTHFUL. And everything changes for him after that, because of course everyone else acts as if whatever he says IS SO. No matter what it is.

And that's not spoilers, the trailers showed that much.

What the trailers DID NOT tell you was that this movie, which started off being pretty inventive and amusing...suddenly veers off its tracks halfway through and becomes a rant against religion.

And pretty much stops being funny.

Sure, there are a couple of moments, but the movie becomes a one-note symphony, and is (I hate to say it) kind of dull and annoying from that point on.

Ah well. I do wish you better luck next time, Mr. Gervais, and that's the truth.