American sweetheart Jennifer Garner and acerbic British comic Ricky Gervais make an odd yet compelling couple in The Invention of Lying.

So it is fascinating to see how they clicked as collaborators, especially with Gervais serving as co-writer and co-director, too.

In an interview with Sun Media, Garner offers insights:

* On working with a multi-credited co-star: "Your partners in making a film are your co-stars, the director and the writer. So, to have them all wound up in one person is very easy."

* On how she met Gervais on Alias: "J.J. Abrams had become obsessed with The Office (Gervais' BBC series) so he had us all watching it. He was such a fan he called Ricky and said: 'You have to come and be in my show!' So Ricky did an episode of Alias and we got to know him there."

* On the serious targets for the film's humour: "Not many films ask you to talk about religion and, certainly, not many comedies would provoke a conversation about religion. But I would hope that it is simply provocative and not a damnation."

* On her initial fear about poking fun about faith: "I actually spoke to Ricky originally when he sent me the script and told him one of my problems with it was: 'I don't want to insult my parents. I was brought up in a church. I am a person of faith. I can play with it and say: "Isn't it funny to look at it." But I am worried about their reaction to it.' And he said: 'It is not a damnation, but it might be unsettling!' "

* On calling her parents: "I am a grown woman and I can do this. But you have a certain amount of respect for the way you were brought up. Mom said: 'Well, first of all, we have a sense of humour, as do you, as does everyone at the church. Secondly, what's wrong with looking at it from a different side? That's fine. We all have a choice and there is no one way to look at religion!' So I liked that about the film, in the end."

* On the film satirizing the erosion of civility: "There is something about just plain manners! It's almost 'cool' to let go of manners and to be uncivil and to be incredibly rude just for the sake of being rude or trying to get a reaction. But can't we just not! Let's just not do that!"

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