I Love You Phillip Morris

Bold Comedy Drama, 12 March 2011

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom


A brave, non-mainstream, story which comes off against the odds. Jim Carrey plays a regular married policeman, Steven Russell, struggling with his sexuality, who has a near fatal car crash, reappraises his life, and survives to embrace an outrageous, excessive, unsustainable gay lifestyle. Fraud leads to prison, where he meets Phillip Morris, played by Ewan McGregor, whom he falls in love with.

The strength of this film is that a gay love story is told in a conventional way. Carrey gives his finest acting performance since The Truman Show, Ewan McGreggor is superb as his fey, effeminate lover. When Russell is released, he then turns his slick talking con-man skills to secure Morris's freedom in an amusing, clever and fast paced plot.

The central gay theme and scenes may alienate a sector of the ordinary film going public, which is a shame. Co –Directors John Requa and Glenn Ficarra have written a sharp, enjoyable screenplay which twists and turns, but is essentially about a con man who finds truth in a love affair. Highly recommended.