Review of I Love You Phillip Morris (2010) by Daniel P — 02 Jul 2012

The recipe for a good Jim Carrey movie is simple: give his character a singular focus (see: Ace Ventura; Liar, Liar; Yes Man). Here, his character, Steve Russell, has a compulsive desire to give his dream partner - the titular Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor) - absolutely everything, which drives him to commit con after con, trying always to keep the law off his tail, and Phillip Morris in love with him.

Morris, of course, is played sweetly by McGregor, as the delicate partner who just wants them to be together, and the two leads have great chemistry overall. Plus, the jokes are just cynical - or failing that, raunchy - enough to keep you laughing.

And, what I perhaps liked most about this movie, is that it talks to you as though you, too, are being conned; some viewers might not like the twist at the end, as it doesn't seem too well set up, but keep in mind: Russell is narrating this story. You didn't expect he'd tell you more than you need to know up front, now, did you? As the tagline says, and as a good con artist would tell you of his next lie: it's so incredible it has to be true. It all makes for a delightful, underrated surprise of a movie that, though it gets a little too heavy in the end, tells a fun and touching love story.