I Love You Phillip Morris is a surprising film, and a welcome one at that. This surprisingly conventional (in a good way) love story is the solid directorial debut from the scribes of Bad Santa. Bad Santa has reached an undeniable cult status in the past few years, and I Love You Philip Morris has the power and quality to do the same. It’s doubtful that this will reach a major audience in its theatrical run. I’ve never seen a Jim Carrey film go so far under the radar for general audiences, but due to the fact it’s one of Carrey’s best performances and a damn fine dramatic comedy as well, it’ll one day be recognized.
Morris has had distribution and release issues, but obviously not due to an issue of quality. It’s material may turn off some, but mainly those looking for easy pokes at gays. What could have been a 90-minute film filled with easy on-the-nose gay jokes is instead an incredibly kind-hearted love story. Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) is a con man. Early on Russell lived his life as an all-out boy scout, even going as far as to marrying a die-hard religious right-winger (played lovely by Leslie Mann).
After a near-death experience, Russell has an epiphany. Despite being married with kids, Russell is gay. After almost facing his doom he decides to live his life the way he wants to, no matter what. With the discovery that being gay is really expensive, he turns to a life of crime. Russell takes the next logical step of becoming a con man, not too long after he leaves the police force. Unsurprisingly, he winds up where you’d expect him to: jail.
During his first outing in the jailhouse, which is shown more as a hotel than the typical raw film jail that we usually see, he meets Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor). Phillip couldn’t be more different than Steven. He hasn’t committed a major crime and is passive and childlike, but not weak. After Steven quickly falls head over heels for him, a long fling begins.
Just like Steven and his ex-wife Debbie, Phillip could have been poked at heavily. He’s not. Directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa show a true love for their “worst-of-luck” characters. They never revel in their failures or blatantly make poke fun at them. Steven Russell could have been a narcissistic maniac, but is instead someone understandable and human. Carrey doesn’t bring the wacky here, but instead the warmth and, yes, great comedic timing for when he needs it. Russell is just someone who will do anything to be with Phillip, almost to the point of self-destruction. Russell may be blind and unintentionally so treats Phillip terribly, but he loves him. McGregor brings an almost puppy-like kindness to Phillip, which plays in perfectly with Steven’s more dominant-like nature. He takes advantage of that, but not in a deliberately mean way.
I Love You Phillip Morris is a compelling love story, but it’s also an extremely competent comedy. It’s got all the stampings of an excellent one: quotable lines, rapid pacing, and not a single dull moment to speak of. This is a top-notch comedy fused with a solid drama. Narratively it may be a tad episodic and you’ll wish for more, especially if you wind up getting sucked in the mad world created here. An extra 20 minutes or so of I Love You Phillip Morris could have been a blessing, considering how close to being great it gets.