Jim Carrey plays Steven Russell, a man who's life seems to be near perfect. He has a great job at the local police station and is married to his wife Debbie (Leslie Mann). One day, Steven is driving home from work and gets into a horrific car accident. After the accident, Steven decides that he is going to live his life how he wants to live it. He openly admits to his wife that he has been a closeted homosexual and now takes up a career of being a con man. As you probably expect this new career choice lands him in a state penitentiary where he meets and falls deeply in love with Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor). This is when the fun really starts as Steven is now devoted to spending his life with Phillip no matter what he has to do to achieve it. Lots of hearty laughs ensue...
One should pose the question, how did a movie as good as "I Love You Phillip Morris" not get a real release in the United States? The film's plot alone is fairly unique and the story itself is extremely funny with a little bit of drama and romance mixed in to add some flair. Top that off with a pretty popular and well known cast including Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, and Leslie Mann and one would really ask the Hollywood studios why? Why was this film failed to be picked up by a major studio? It all comes down to the subject matter, at least in my eyes. Also every film buff knows that Jim Carrey is a bankable star. If you look at his career, almost every movie he has starred in has made a lot of green. It seems that Hollywood Studios were afraid to give money to a film that showed Carrey in a lead role as a gay man and that's a damn shame.
Jim Carrey's performance in "I Love You Phillip Morris" is probably one of his finest roles to date and that is coming from someone who truly appreciates his work. Outside of "Eternal Sunshine" and "Truman Show," this film marks Carrey's best performance to date. I think the reason why is because he uses his comedic side, sarcastic side, and dramatic side all in one character. Carrey's character, Steven Russell is very interesting and seems to have lead a secret life for many years. Carrey sometimes uses his slapstick humor in the film and it works. He also plays one hell of a con man and even more so plays the southern role even better. He is definitely the one to watch every moment he is on screen.
Let me say this and I don't know if this is a good thing or not but Ewan McGregor plays one hell of a gay guy. Man, he nails the role perfectly and I found him to be extremely believable as the sweet and ultra sensitive Phillip Morris. Leslie Mann plays more of a minor role in the film but is extremely funny as the clueless ex-wife of Steve. Mann's character is pretty similar to a lot of the previous roles she has played but she's good at it none the less.
This film was written by the two guys who wrote "Bad Santa" and while I actually hated that movie, I did love this film. I think John Requa and Glenn Ficarra did a great job bringing the story of Steven Russell to the big screen. The film felt fresh and original and wasn't afraid to be daring. I would also like to point out that this film is based on a book, which is the biography of a real man named Steven Russell. When you watch this film you would think it was made up or a work of fiction but it wasn't. This is actually a true story, go figure! I am sure the film takes some liberties to make it more interesting for film purposes.
Why was the film daring? The story itself because of the story, a gay con man in a southern state, well that's bold. The humor in the film as well including the amount of gay references with actual gay characters is another bold move by the filmmakers. Lets not even touch on the fact that there is some sex in this film and yes it is gay sex. The sex is actually pretty graphic too for a comedic film. This is probably another reason why this film didn't get that Mainstream release I was talking about earlier because heaven forbid a mainstream audience realizes that gay people do exist outside of cowboys in "Brokeback Mountain." That wasn't an insult because "Brokeback Mountain" was a great film but just a point to show that gay and lesbian's still don't have equal rights in film.
Bottom line: "I Love You Phillip Morris" is a underrated and under-appreciated film. It will never get the kind of audience it very well deserves. The movie tells an interesting and comedic tale about a real life con man who's life is nothing short of fascinating. Carrey is brilliant in the film and McGregor plays a gay man with such ease that it makes you wonder if he really is gay. This film is a breathe of fresh air for those who enjoy dark comedies or con movies and are sick of the same old Hollywood clichés. I recommend almost everyone to check this film out when it hits DVD shelves since its nearly impossible to find a theater playing it outside an major city.
MovieManMenzel's final rating for "I Love You Phillip Morris" is a sold 8 out of 10. One of the best Jim Carrey films in recent years!
One should pose the question, how did a movie as good as "I Love You Phillip Morris" not get a real release in the United States? The film's plot alone is fairly unique and the story itself is extremely funny with a little bit of drama and romance mixed in to add some flair. Top that off with a pretty popular and well known cast including Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, and Leslie Mann and one would really ask the Hollywood studios why? Why was this film failed to be picked up by a major studio? It all comes down to the subject matter, at least in my eyes. Also every film buff knows that Jim Carrey is a bankable star. If you look at his career, almost every movie he has starred in has made a lot of green. It seems that Hollywood Studios were afraid to give money to a film that showed Carrey in a lead role as a gay man and that's a damn shame.
Jim Carrey's performance in "I Love You Phillip Morris" is probably one of his finest roles to date and that is coming from someone who truly appreciates his work. Outside of "Eternal Sunshine" and "Truman Show," this film marks Carrey's best performance to date. I think the reason why is because he uses his comedic side, sarcastic side, and dramatic side all in one character. Carrey's character, Steven Russell is very interesting and seems to have lead a secret life for many years. Carrey sometimes uses his slapstick humor in the film and it works. He also plays one hell of a con man and even more so plays the southern role even better. He is definitely the one to watch every moment he is on screen.
Let me say this and I don't know if this is a good thing or not but Ewan McGregor plays one hell of a gay guy. Man, he nails the role perfectly and I found him to be extremely believable as the sweet and ultra sensitive Phillip Morris. Leslie Mann plays more of a minor role in the film but is extremely funny as the clueless ex-wife of Steve. Mann's character is pretty similar to a lot of the previous roles she has played but she's good at it none the less.
This film was written by the two guys who wrote "Bad Santa" and while I actually hated that movie, I did love this film. I think John Requa and Glenn Ficarra did a great job bringing the story of Steven Russell to the big screen. The film felt fresh and original and wasn't afraid to be daring. I would also like to point out that this film is based on a book, which is the biography of a real man named Steven Russell. When you watch this film you would think it was made up or a work of fiction but it wasn't. This is actually a true story, go figure! I am sure the film takes some liberties to make it more interesting for film purposes.
Why was the film daring? The story itself because of the story, a gay con man in a southern state, well that's bold. The humor in the film as well including the amount of gay references with actual gay characters is another bold move by the filmmakers. Lets not even touch on the fact that there is some sex in this film and yes it is gay sex. The sex is actually pretty graphic too for a comedic film. This is probably another reason why this film didn't get that Mainstream release I was talking about earlier because heaven forbid a mainstream audience realizes that gay people do exist outside of cowboys in "Brokeback Mountain." That wasn't an insult because "Brokeback Mountain" was a great film but just a point to show that gay and lesbian's still don't have equal rights in film.
Bottom line: "I Love You Phillip Morris" is a underrated and under-appreciated film. It will never get the kind of audience it very well deserves. The movie tells an interesting and comedic tale about a real life con man who's life is nothing short of fascinating. Carrey is brilliant in the film and McGregor plays a gay man with such ease that it makes you wonder if he really is gay. This film is a breathe of fresh air for those who enjoy dark comedies or con movies and are sick of the same old Hollywood clichés. I recommend almost everyone to check this film out when it hits DVD shelves since its nearly impossible to find a theater playing it outside an major city.
MovieManMenzel's final rating for "I Love You Phillip Morris" is a sold 8 out of 10. One of the best Jim Carrey films in recent years!