Review of I Love You Phillip Morris (2010) by Matt G — 25 Jun 2011

One of the smartest, dazzlingly fresh American dark comedies I've seen in a long time. It shares a lot with Soderbergh's The Informant: it presents itself as a biography and offers an array of witty, almost slapstick moments, but always stays honest to the reality of the story.

It's a mishmash of genres at well, and is efficient at all of them. Comedy, romance, con man. It is wonderfully dark and subversive, but there's constantly an insight to the character's motives.

No one is a stereotype, but we begin to understand how and why Carrey's character views the world around him as those he can manipulate to his advantage. The script is quick and perfectly acted. There are no villains and characters say exactly how they feel when it's important, which could is often a sign of melodrama.

But the characters are fascinating and believable. This is great, unforgettable filmmaking.