I Love You…

I Love You Phillip Morris Review

16 Mar 2010

Critics rating: 4 stars out of 5

Reviewed by Jonathan Crocker , LOVEFiLM

A story so outrageous it just had to be true. Well, mostly true.

In the beginning, Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) was just another normal American. He got married, became a police officer, went to Church on a Sunday, had a baby... and then decided that going straight was not for him. Busting out of the closet as a gay playboy and super-criminal, he rapidly became a master of disguise, fraudster extraordinaire and America’s most prolific prison escapee. Suffice to say, if Russell hadn’t actually been born, the Coen brothers would have invented him.

I Love You Phillip Morris

Starring Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro

Director Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

Genres Comedy, Drama, Gay/Lesbian, Romance

Run time 100 mins Certificate 15

Cast details

Jim Carrey

Born: 17 Jan 1962
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada

Top rated films	View all
The Truman Show - Blu-ray (1998)
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind - Blu-ray (2004)

Written and directed by the screenwriters of Bad Santa, I Love You Phillip Morris might just be the most unique movie of the year. The clue’s in the title: Russell’s incredible antics are all motored by bad romance, as he falls crazy-in-love with fellow jailbird Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor). Love story? Crime thriller? Caper comedy? It’s all three.

Funny, chaotic, touching and gripping, it’s impossible to pin down (Catch Me If You Can remake by the Farrelly brothers?). Twisting and turning with irresistible colour and pace, the movie’s oddball propulsion constantly threatens to pull everything apart at the seams. But happily, it’s anchored down by an excellent lead performance from one of the few stars capable of nailing this kind of amazing curio.

Chameleon comedian Jim Carrey reminds us, with dream-roles that seem to make a habit of seeking him out; he’s also one of Hollywood’s most fascinating actors. Unleashing a risky, charming and passionate performance that meshes perfectly with the film’s loopy emotionalism, he keeps Russell on a breathless tightrope between character and caricature. Both selfish and sincere, Russell is a complex case-study who always keeps us guessing – but Carrey knows exactly what he’s doing.

Ewan McGregor and Jim Carrey

And despite reminding us that he can botch an American accent as badly as an Irish burr (see Angels and Demons: “Have ya com tah meek a mah-tah oot of me?”), McGregor plays blond, blue-eyed son-of-a-preacher-man Morris with a touching naivety (see Moulin Rouge: another wild, wonderful romantic tragedy) that has just the right click here. Morris and Russell's relationship convinces exactly because the script never hard-pedals it as gay.

You won't see another movie like this for a while.

Heartfelt, subversive and booby-trapped with surprising depth, I Love You Phillip Morris can’t always stop its story and style doodling off the page. But that goes with the territory. Trust us: you won't see another movie like this for a while.

I Love You Phillip Morris Reviews

Critic's review of I Love You Phillip Morris
View all (1)
- Policeman, husband, father, closeted gay man, out gay man, fraudster, prison escapee, fake lawyer, embezzler, prison... read more on Time Out
- 100393
- - Trevor Johnston
  - Time Out
  - 17 Mar 2010 at 02:51
Most helpful member's review of I Love You Phillip Morris
View all members' reviews (248)
- - 59
  - 8
  Great acting from the two leading men!
  
  First of all, Carrey lookings NOTHING like the real Steve Russell,however I enjoyed his and Macgregor's performances. Thoroughly genuine, it made you laugh ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 873779
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Beddington
  - 18 Mar 2010 at 14:27
Most recent members' reviews of I Love You Phillip Morris
View all members' reviews (248)
- - 0
  - 0
  A Marmite movie.
  
  I hate Marmite but I loved this.
  
  A quirky comedy that is well acted by its two leads. Jim Carrey shows that he can act when he tries; leaving his ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1092020
- - a customer
  - 13 Feb 2012 at 16:40
- - 0
  - 0
  a completely unbelievable true story
  
  I Love You Phillip Morris opens with the cheeky preface 'This Really Happened' rather than the normal 'Based on a True Story' or the standard &#... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1090476
- - bizmandan
  - 52 reviews
  - 09 Feb 2012 at 16:02
- - 0
  - 0
  Forget brokeback mountain, this is better :)
  
  Such an engaging story, loved the soundtrack - very quirky. I loved the little twist at the end. I thought Jim and Ewan did spectacular with their portrayal of ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1088791
- - gypsy2522
  - 9 reviews
  - Chertsey
  - 04 Feb 2012 at 23:19
View all members' reviews (248)

- - 59
  - 8
  Great acting from the two leading men!
  
  First of all, Carrey lookings NOTHING like the real Steve Russell,however I enjoyed his and Macgregor's performances. Thoroughly genuine, it made you laugh ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 873779
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Beddington
  - 18 Mar 2010 at 14:27
- - 7
  - 4
  Not as good as I expected
  
  This film was not really as good as I expected but it has some really good moments. However, it also has a lot of not so good moments. It seemed a bit too long ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 874430
- - TomPerkins321
  - 8 reviews
  - Plymouth, Devon
  - 19 Mar 2010 at 23:09
- - 6
  - 3
  Comedy/Drama It did not deliver
  
  I dont really know what to make of it. It is a comedy but at the same time has real moments of drama that makes one feel unconfortable.
  
  As a story it... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 875263
- - Malser
  - 2 reviews
  - Manton
  - 22 Mar 2010 at 09:55
- - 5
  - 3
  Carrey's worst!!
  
  A ghastly gay soft porn flick. Horrible. Carrey and McGregor should stick to what they do best instead of experimenting, like actors who have too much money do... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 918351
- - Julie1970
  - 1 review
  - Durham
  - 26 Aug 2010 at 20:51
- - 4
  - 2
  Not always pleasent watching
  
  Made me cringe A LOT whilst watching and found some parts really unnecessary.
  
  Think the summary misses out a major part of the film!
  
  Major... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 921720
- - a customer
  - Harlow
  - 08 Sep 2010 at 11:28
- - 3
  - 0
  I Love you Philip Morris
  
  I loved this film. A funny and touching film. Sad being a true story. Not always a fan of Jim Carey but this time he was very good
  
  Report this review
- 891609
- - Pinkred
  - 3 reviews
  - Raynes Park
  - 15 May 2010 at 20:39
- - 3
  - 0
  Totally not what I was expecting :(
  
  Soooooooo not what I expected and very very very odd, one of those films you think why the hell did I even waist my time watching this, yep its one of them.read more »
  
  Report this review
- 991829
- - Dhillon007
  - 59 reviews
  - Sandhurst
  - 11 May 2011 at 23:39
- - 3
  - 0
  Must've fallen asleep
  
  Hmmm - might be a while ago, but having re-read the blurb I can't remember this at all. guess that says it all really!
  
  Report this review
- 1021304
- - a customer
  - Doncaster
  - 24 Jul 2011 at 23:54
- - 3
  - 1
  I Love You Philip Morris.
  
  Sorry, I thought this film was really boring, and an appalling waste of the talents of Jim Carey & Ewan MacGregor.
  
  Report this review
- 970502
- - a customer
  - Scotland
  - 06 Mar 2011 at 16:57
- - 4
  - 3
  I love you Phillip Morris
  
  Not funny at all. Was really silly and dissapointing for a Jim Carrey film. Got bored within minutes. Would not recommend it to anyone.
  
  Report this review
- 920759
- - a customer
  - wolverhampton
  - 04 Sep 2010 at 21:19

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Critic's review
- Policeman, husband, father, closeted gay man, out gay man, fraudster, prison escapee, fake lawyer, embezzler, prison... read more on Time Out
- 100393
- - Trevor Johnston
  - Time Out
  - 17 Mar 2010 at 02:51

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