Review of I Love You Phillip Morris (2010) by Steven C — 06 Apr 2012

While Jim Carrey and Ewen McGregor turn in some terrific performance, I found "I Love You, Phillip Morris" to be exceedingly scattered. I had no idea what they were trying to say with this film.

It's based on a true story, a very sad and disturbing true story when you think about it, that they craft into a sort of romantic comedy. Normally I love harsh juxtapositions in films but the tone of the events and the way they are ultimately told make no sense together.

I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be feeling at any given moment. Should I be elated that they have found true love? Should I be laughing that he is as disturbed a man that he will fake his death from AIDS? This would be one thing if it was a fictional story, but it's not.

These things happened, (the opening credits reinforce that statement for you, twice) and I just can't find it funny. One thing I really look for in a film is cohesion and "I Love You, Phillip Morris" has none of that.

It may be an energetic film, and Carrey is doing some fine work, but I found it wildly alienating.