In my mind, Jim Carrey is one of the finest actor’s in the business! Even since In Living Color, I’ve been a fan of Jim, and not only is he a gifted comedic actor, he is a gifted actor period. Disappointingly though, he signed up to a few movies which didn’t really give him a chance to shine. Yes Man comes to mind, as does Lemony Snicket and Fun with Dick and Jane. Theses movie’s were far removed from amazing performances in Man on the Moon, The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine. But, thankfully, Jim Carrey is shining incredibly bright in I Love You Phillip Morris.
A true story which seems Carrey play a married man, who after a car crash decides to live life to the fullest and do whatever he wants, when he wants and how he wants. Much to the surprise of his wife, Steven Russell announces he’s gay and thunder’s off to live a fabulous life, surrounded by lavish purchases and an even more lavish lifestyle. All the lavish spending need’s an income and as he has packed up his police man job, he doe’s what most of us would do, he becomes a con man. As I said, most of us! Eventually, he ends up in prison and meets Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor) and the 2 of them embark on a love affair and when the eventually get out, Morris is oblivious to the fact that Russell isn’t a real lawyer and the scam’s he comes up with to fund their luxurious lifestyle. Couple this with scam after scam, and a few little twists and you end up with a comedy that is sprinkled with elements of sadness, passion and sweetness!
Ewan McGregor plays second fiddle here, to an on-fire Jim Carrey, but he is entirely believable and put’s in a contrasting performance compared to the energy that abounds with Carrey’s. It’s not until the final chapter that McGregor really comes into his own, as things go from bad to worse for him. As great as McGregor is here, Jim Carrey leap’s off the screen in every single scene. He’s funny one minute, serious the next. Carrey is left off the leash here, and it shows. No longer constrained by the family comedy, his performance is dazzling and a tour de force as he win’s and loses along this pretty demented journey.
I Love you Phillip Morris is 102 minutes long, but at times it seems to drag it’s heels every so slightly, and feels a little longer than it actually is. But that aside, this is a huge return to form for Jim Carrey and I Love You Phillip Morris will make you laugh, you might even cry and you certainly will be conned, but in a good way!
A true story which seems Carrey play a married man, who after a car crash decides to live life to the fullest and do whatever he wants, when he wants and how he wants. Much to the surprise of his wife, Steven Russell announces he’s gay and thunder’s off to live a fabulous life, surrounded by lavish purchases and an even more lavish lifestyle. All the lavish spending need’s an income and as he has packed up his police man job, he doe’s what most of us would do, he becomes a con man. As I said, most of us! Eventually, he ends up in prison and meets Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor) and the 2 of them embark on a love affair and when the eventually get out, Morris is oblivious to the fact that Russell isn’t a real lawyer and the scam’s he comes up with to fund their luxurious lifestyle. Couple this with scam after scam, and a few little twists and you end up with a comedy that is sprinkled with elements of sadness, passion and sweetness!
Ewan McGregor plays second fiddle here, to an on-fire Jim Carrey, but he is entirely believable and put’s in a contrasting performance compared to the energy that abounds with Carrey’s. It’s not until the final chapter that McGregor really comes into his own, as things go from bad to worse for him. As great as McGregor is here, Jim Carrey leap’s off the screen in every single scene. He’s funny one minute, serious the next. Carrey is left off the leash here, and it shows. No longer constrained by the family comedy, his performance is dazzling and a tour de force as he win’s and loses along this pretty demented journey.
I Love you Phillip Morris is 102 minutes long, but at times it seems to drag it’s heels every so slightly, and feels a little longer than it actually is. But that aside, this is a huge return to form for Jim Carrey and I Love You Phillip Morris will make you laugh, you might even cry and you certainly will be conned, but in a good way!
