PRINTMovie review: I Love You Phillip Morris
A comedy you won’t want to bail on
Courtesy of Roadside Attractions
Jim Carrey falls in love with Ewan McGregor while doing a stint in prison in this comedy.
February 26, 2011 | 12:10 p.m. CST
Steven Russell can escape from prison but not from love. In the horde of hookup flicks, I Love You Phillip Morris shows there are some things you can’t outrun.
A serious car accident causes Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) to abandon his life as a heterosexual cop and embrace the homosexual con artist within. His tactics land him in jail, where he falls madly in love. Crossword puzzle in hand, Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor) is trying to avoid a jailhouse brawl while Russell’s eyes remain cemented on him. But Russell is not the easiest person to love. His lies, games and schemes keep the audience roaring but loved ones seething.
Related MovieFans of Jim Carrey’s famous gyrating and flinging of his body won’t be disappointed. Even in this more serious role, the quirks of Carrey come through. Tightly focused shots of his character’s face often explain and add more to the situation than words, such as when Russell is in a judge’s chambers and the camera jumps from face to face as Russell’s contorts with angst over the judge’s next utterance.
Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, I Love You Phillip Morris portrays gay culture from all angles. While typical gay stereotypes add chuckles, the film also dives into the intense love these two men share. Amongst the laughs of the audience, scenes flicker to a complete contrast of raw emotion. These moments add a layer of complexity to the story.
I Love You Phillip Morris isn’t filled with cheap laughs. The laugh-out-loud black comedy is interwoven into a rich storyline that arrests audiences.
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