I Love You Phillip Morris (2009)

Title: I Love You Phillip Morris

Rating: 15

Released: 2009

Director: Glenn Ficarra & John Requa

Starring: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro

Our Verdict: **** 3.5 stars

In a line: The 'campest' comedy of the year that will leave you wondering how on earth it could be true!

Background: Before I saw this film, I had no idea about the background story. I watched the opening credits which declared that the film was based on true events. As a fan of horror, I'm all too familiar with 'true' stories, that is, stories that are maybe an ounce of truth and over an hour of pure fiction blended together. The first thing I did after seeing this film was look up the story it was based on. Ladies and Gentlemen; it is a true story. Very little in the film is fictitious. And that makes the film truly remarkable. I spent the whole time watching it thinking that it was totally impossible that the film could be based on real events. It actually is.

The film is the story of Steven (Jay) Russell, one of America's greatest ever con artists. The narrative was adapted from the book 'I love you Phillip Morris: A True Story of Life, Love and Prison Breaks' by Steve McVicker. Due to the relatively explicit gay sexual content, the film has experienced delays in release, particularly in America, as finding a distributor has proved difficult. Despite being released in the UK on the 18th of March 2010, the film will not premier in the USA until April 30th 2010.

Produced for $20million, the film was a collaboration between French and American production companies. So far, it has been a successful release, but it remains to be seen how the film will go down in the USA.

Synopsis: Steven Russell has the perfect life. He has a beautiful family and is working as a police officer; the job he always wanted. He is devoutly religious; meeting his wife at church. Steven is also adopted. Really, he became a police officer so he could use police databases to find his birth mother. After managing to track her down, Steven learns that his birth mother has kept her other children. Devastated, he moves his family to Texas to live out the 'American Dream'. One night, Steven is involved in a car accident. He realises that life is too short to live a lie, and subsequently comes out as being gay. Impulsively he moves to Miami with new boyfriend, Jimmy. Living the playboy lifestyle, Steven soon learns that "being gay is expensive" and takes to committing insurance fraud to fund their extravagant lifestyle. Rather unsurprisingly, this leads to him being imprisoned. Whilst in prison, Steven meets Phillip Morris, who he falls in love with. Steven is released from prison, and manages to get Phillip released early. He pretends to be a lawyer, even helping Phillip's neighbour with a legal case. Steven gets a high flying job, which he is nowhere near qualified for, by lying his way through the interview. He begins to steal vast quantities of money from the company. Steven ends up in prison again, but manages to escape. He is caught and sent back to prison, but manages to escape again. Both Phillip and Steven are then arrested. It is at this point that Steven begins his most daring escape ever. It is so crazy that you won't believe it really happened, but it did.

Review: From the first five minutes, this film is hilarious. One liners aplenty. And it isn't just obvious humour; the film is pretty witty too.

The main strength of this film is the totally unbelievable plot. The narrative is so crazy and far-fetched that it becomes truly hilarious. And the best part about it is that it's all true; this madness really happened.

For me, one of the greatest things about this film is looking up the story it is based on. That made the film all the more interesting and really quite special.

It's a love story. Really quite a sweet and beautiful love story; but juxtaposed against the harsh reality of prison. It's also a story of hope, and one that illustrates that you can do anything if you want it badly enough, and really put your mind to it.

The final escape attempt was absolutely amazing. Everyone in the cinema was sat with their mouths open.

The comedy was executed perfectly; Carrey is a master of comedic timing. McGregor is exceptionally well cast as the bumbling and naive lover, the complete antithesis of the criminal mastermind played by Carrey. The supporting cast was also well chosen.

I'm usually not a big fan of American comedy films. I tend to find them obvious, tedious and boring. This film is completely different to many of the big-budget ($20million) comedies; it's slick, intelligent and has a story which is so amazing, you just couldn't make it up.

You are completely rooting for Carrey as Steven Russell, even as he commits crime and fraud. The characters are totally loveable; which is part of the attraction for me. I like watching a film containing characters I like. With each escape attempt becoming more daring, the audience becomes more and more supporting of Steven.

It's pretty rare to see such an explicitly gay film in the mainstream, with some scenes reminiscent of 'Brüno' (2009). It is refreshing though, to see the relationship between the two lead actors portrayed in such a sweet and sensitive way. As well as being a hilarious comedy, this really is a love story; and a very well executed one at that.

For me, the most touching part of the film was the information given before the credits began to roll; that Steven Russell was arrested for trying to arrange Phillip's release, and that Steven has been sentenced to life (actually, he has been sentenced to 144 years) and is currently on 23hour-a-day lock-down, with just one hour for showering and exercise. This is a penalty befitting a dangerous criminal; Steven was a conman who didn't really do anyone any harm.

That aside; the film is of top comedic standard. It will make you laugh, and you will be in disbelief of what one conman was capable of.

Highly recommended.