| Movie DescriptionThe film is set in an alternate reality in which there is no such thing as lying, and everything said is the absolute truth. In this world, people continually make very blunt and often cruel statements and remarks that people in the real world would normally keep to themselves. The concepts of fiction, imagination, and speculation do not exist, resulting in the movie industry being limited to lecture-style historical readings, television commercials being straightforward, and an absence of religion.
Mark Bellison is an unsuccessful lecture-film writer, who is cursed with writing for the 14th century, a "very boring" era to write about. One night, he goes out on a date with Anna McDoogles. She bluntly states to Mark that she is not attracted to him due to his looks and unsuccessful financial situation, but is going out with him to satisfy her extremely prejudicial mother. After the date, she admits that she had a better time than she thought she would.
The next day Mark is fired from his job and his landlord evicts him for being short on rent. Depressed, he goes to the bank to close his account and use his remaining money to move out of his apartment. The teller informs him that the computers are down, but since society is one of full disclosure, she asks Mark how much money he has in his account. Mark has an epiphany, and tells the world's first lie, that he has $800 in his account. The computer comes back online and shows his balance is $300, but the teller gives him the full $800 anyway, assuming that the computer made a mistake.
Mark tests his discovery of lying through various means while helping others feel better about themselves. He then writes a fictitious screenplay, about the world being invaded by aliens in the 14th Century and in the end the memories of all humans were erased, which he named "The Black Plague" and becomes wealthy from its success.
Mark convinces Anna to go out with him again, hoping she will see past his looks and weight now that he is financially secure. On their date, Anna congratulates Mark for his success and admits that he would be a good husband and father, but she still is not attracted to him. Afterwards, Mark goes to the hospital after his mother has a heart attack. She is terrified of death, believing she will go into an eternity of nothingness. Mark tearfully makes up a comforting story about a joyful afterlife, and introduces the concept of Heaven to her, and she dies happily, while the doctors and nurses present are awed by what he says.
After the doctors and nurses spread the word, Mark soon receives worldwide attention for his supposed new information about death. Under pressure from Anna and to satisfy their curiosity, he tells them he talks to a "Man In The Sky" who controls everything and promises great rewards in the good place after you die based on ten rules.
Meanwhile Mark's film rival Brad Kessler pursues Anna romantically, motivated by spite because of Mark's success. However, Brad's blunt, rude manner makes Anna uncomfortable, though she is still pressured by her mother to continue dating him, which leads to their engagement. |
