Don’t say it. You don’t have to tell me that you don’t like Jim Carrey, no one does, so just hear me out.
Don’t say it. You don’t have to tell me that you don’t like Jim Carrey, no one does, so just hear me out.
I Love You Phillip Morris is based on a true story, adapted from the book by Steven McVicker, and it is above all a love story. A love story between two people and the extremes one of them goes to, to be with his soul mate. Steven Russell (Carrey) is a real guy, who was living a real life with a wife and kids, when he had an epiphanous (epiphanic? Not sure) moment and decided to live his life to the fullest – as an out gay man. He conned his way to money, jobs, and out of the Texas prison system all in the name of love. And what is a con man really? Someone who charms you at first, and then you find out that he’s nothing but a fake who disappoints you – just like Jim Carrey.
During his stint in the State Penitentiary, Steven meets the love of his life, Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor), and this is where the love story starts. We watch Steven attempt one con after another to create a life with Phillip, the first being getting them both out of jail. Mr. McGregor is fantastic as the soft-spoken Phillip and serves as the perfect bite of sushi for Carrey’s wasabi. Leslie Mann’s performance as the ex-wife also has a great balance of humor and heart. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll still dislike Carrey for the first ten minutes, but with the help of this cast and the filmmakers, you start to be impressed, if not amazed, by this flawed and ballsy character. He’s audacious, deluded, and obsessive. Who else could’ve played that?
The movie is narrated by the Steven character, so we get his perspective on his reasons and feelings about everything. He’s driven by undying love, but the cons he orchestrates are so ridiculous, I don’t think it would have worked as a drama – people would simply not believe it. And if it were fictional – forget it. Yes, this movie is basically a comedy, a rare bird when it comes to non-fiction, but it has some dramatic and real moments. It’s weirdly romantic, despite the dysfunction and deception. I don’t know what the tone of the book is, but now I’m dying to read it. This Steven Russell guy is one of kind, and what he did for love – well, you’ll just have to see for yourself. He’s extreme, desperate, and you feel guilty for liking him – just like Jim Carrey.
–Suzy Nakamura
