oishiineko

(2012-04-27 18:23:34)

Always good to entertain audiences

Jim Carrey is a talented actor who played funny characters with vigouras if he is jumping out of the screen such as "The Trueman Show(1998)", "The Cable Guy (1996)" and "Yes Man (2008)", while he alsoportrayed an ordinary guy who suffered the pain of love that everyonewould experience one or more in their life, in "Eternal Sunshine of theSpotless Mind (2004)". This time, the story is a love story based on atrue story, which describes a genius corn man who has an IQ of 169, andbecame gay after he experienced an accident. He tries to impersonate a lawyer, embezzle money from a corporation,and attempts to break out of jail many times, just because he is inlove. In fact, Steven Russell played by Jim Carrey who attempted tobreak jail many times, and he was sentenced to prison in Texas for 144years. Assuming from Jim's extraordinary characters he has portrayed,it may be imaginable that Jim could play someone gay using aninteresting look and mannerisms. But you would be surprised how naturalEwan McGregor acts as a boyfriend of Steve. Steve would do anything including crimes for his loved one. Thisfeeling reminded me of "Monster (2003)", where Charlize Theron played arole, who became a serial killer only for the sake of seeing hergirlfriend's smile, which was also based on a fact. Another interesting thing in this story would be how the network in anAmerican jail is created by prisoners.

(2012-04-27 03:28:03)

Gross

This review is from: I Love You Phillip Morris (Amazon Instant Video) This movie was about as anti-Christian as you can get. It actually mocked Christianity. And it did it all in favor of pushing a pro-gay agenda. It champions gay men to are married cheating on their wives. It says a lot of about gay relationships in the one scene where the one character says something like "enough of the mushy stuff let's f***". It was graphic and just disgusting. I turned it off. I don't even understand the point of this movie except more liberal propaganda.

rsd_anon

(2012-04-20 02:29:54)

OK Movie Flawed by Homosexual Sex Depictions

Many of the reviews are apparently written by people who view thehomosexual sex scenes and numerous references as being romantic. I feltthat the movie would have been FAR better without those scenes andreferences. I think that the love between two men (or a man and awoman) can be portrayed without the sex scenes. The more graphic thescene, the more the director can titillate part of the audience, whilegrossing out others in the audience. If the audience for this movie ishomosexual, then they will probably think the scenes and references tobe positive. If the audience is straight, then they will probably findthe scenes to be somewhat repulsive. I appreciate the frustration thathomosexuals must feel in having to watch the heterosexual scenes thatoverpopulate many movies today (e.g. "Love and Other Drugs"). However,if a movie is viewed by a general audience, then 90% - 95% of thataudience will be straight and may be grossed out by homosexual sexscenes. My rating of "5" reflects my own experience of this movie. Ifit had been more tasteful, I would have rated the movie as a "7". Ithink the director could have portrayed the message without grossing meout.As it is, this movie is a so-so cross between the comedic energy of"Catch Me if You Can" and the romance of "Brokeback Mountain", butslanted towards a homosexual audience.

sddavis63

(2012-04-19 17:37:02)

Neither A Typical Romance Nor Typical Jim Carrey

This is not exactly your typical romance; neither is it exactly yourtypical Jim Carrey movie. Here, Carrey plays Steven Russell. Steven isleading a basically successful life - he's a respected police officer,he's a church organist. he's married to a beautiful woman and he has acute daughter. Everything's working out for him - except that somethingstill seems missing. Steven finally discovers that he's gay, and heembarks on a whole new life. From there the movie takes off.Steven becomes basically a conman, lying his way through life and - notsurprisingly - he ends up in prison, where quite unexpectedly he meetsand falls in love with Philip Morris (played by Ewan McGregor.) The upsand downs and challenges of that relationship are the motor that drivesthe bulk of the movie from that point on. Steven continues to be aconman. He's in and out of prison, and more often than not when he'sout he's quite successful. He passes himself off as a lawyer; hesomehow manages to get a big company to hire him as CFO - and does agreat job for them! There's more than a hint of "Catch Me If You Can"in this story. But he also always gets caught and ends up back inprison. His never-ending con jobs, though, have an impact on hisrelationship with Philip and the end of the movie is not - fromSteven's perspective - a particularly happy one, as he successfullypulls off the con job of all con jobs, but still ends up getting caughtand put back in jail.I liked the work of Carrey and McGregor. They worked well together andthey seemed to capture their parts well. For Carrey, this was a moremeaty and substantive role than he often plays, and he pulled it off.As a sort of tragic romance, this is a sad movie, as you get the sensethat Steven never really seemed to come to grips with exactly who andwhat he was - and I'm not talking about his sexuality; I'm talkingabout him. He was an obviously talented and gifted and intelligent manwho just never found his way in life. As a comedy, the humour issomewhat dry. This isn't outrageously funny, so if you're looking for atypical Jim Carrey laugh-fest, this will disappoint. Based on the real life of the real Steven Russell, this is aninteresting movie, and in spite of the fact that Steven is a conman,you have a certain degree of admiration for his ability to pull off allthe cons. Still, I didn't find it to be a great movie. (6/10)

(2012-04-17 12:07:02)

not..........

This review is from: I Love You Phillip Morris (Amazon Instant Video) not a good movie crappy I was very disappointed! :(don't even waste your money or your time.for this movie

morrison-dylan-fan

(2012-04-17 07:47:10)

Catch me if you can.

Having recently picked up the DVD of this film,I decided to searchonline to try and find out how a movie with a pretty big cast,seemed tohave been swept under the carpet.After looking round online for awhile,I was very surprised to see that this film has had a lot of legaltroubles with its US release (although it was luckily able, to come outoverseas,where the film was able to gross all its budget back,and somemore!)During my viewing of this very entertaining film, (which moves ata stunning pace)I feel that although it lacks some of the excellentblack comedy moments of screenwriters/first time co-directors GlennFicarra and John Requas screenplay for the classic ant-family- friendlyChristmas film "Bad Santa",it is still a very funny,sadly over lookedfilm.The plot: With a good wife,a strong role in the running of his local church andhaving a respectable job as a local police officer.Everything seems tobe going smoothly for Steven Jay Russell until,one day on his way backfrom work Russell has another driver suddenly speeds into his car,andcauses a huge car crash.As Steven starts to heal up in hospital,hebegins to feel that he should not be holding anything back in hislife,and that he should instead let all of his feelings and desirer'sout into the open. This leads Russell to giving his wife a realshock,by telling her that for almost his whole life,he has beengay.Right after his surprise anoucment Steven,decides to leave all ofhis family and friends behind,so that he can instead get a boyfriendand live the high-life in a very wealthy city.With Russell havinggotten hold of a great boyfriend for himself,he next goes on a hugespending spree so that he can be "the man" of the city.The only troublewith that plan is that he is spending much more money,then he isgetting in.Despratly not wanting to lose his new shine,Steven decidesthat he is going to get hold of the extra money that he needs for hisextravagant life style,by turning into a con man!.Though things atfirst seem to be getting aligned for Russell to succeeded,with himstealing companies cash right under the bosses nose.He is eventuallycaught out and sent straight away to spend quite a bit of time injail.During his time in prison Steven gradually starts to accept thathe has to make the most out of being stuck in jail,and over time hebecomes one of the trusted "elders" who are asked by the guards tointroduce inmates to their new surroundings.After having given a newinmate a guided tour of the prison,Stevens eyes catch a glimpse ofanother new inmate called Phillip Morris.With his eyes being transfixedon Morris,Roberts gets a hard case of love at first sight.Thanfully forRussell,Morris also gets a feeling of love at first sight for him,whichover time leads to both of them falling deeply in love for eachother.Sadly with Stevens jail term coming to an end soon,he knows thathe has a big risk that his relationship with Morris will end.This leadsSteven to deciding that he needs to dust down his old conning ways,sothat he and Morris can still be a couple..View on the film: For the first 40 minutes of thefilm,writers/directors Ficarra and Requas have the film move at atremendous speed,with Stevens changing life style and excellent consmaking the first half of the film very entertaining.Although the humouris a lot more sweet-natured than there screenplay for the film BadSanta,Ficarra and Requas are still able to fill the film with a lot ofgreat comedy moments,with Russells increasingly insane ideas of how hecan stay close to Phillip being a particular highlight,which are alsomade to be a lot more funnier by a brilliant performance from JimCarrey,who impressively stays right in the centre,and never turnsSteven Jay Russell into a complete slap- stick comedy character,or anextremely shadowy individual.With the last half an hour,the film sadlyruns a bit out of steam,with the films plot moving at a noticeablyslower pace than the amazing first half.Although it does have to besaid,that Ficarra and Requas unleash a huge surprise twist near the endof the film,that along with catching you off guard,also cleverlyconnects up with the beginning of the film.Final view on the film: An excellent off-beat,well written and directed comedy,with aremarkable performance from Carrey.

aussiefilmlover

(2012-04-10 05:50:34)

Upbeat Rom-com that just happens to be about a gay couple

I'm really surprised it took so long for this film to be distributed.It is was not because it wasn't charming and romantic, It wasn'tbecause the acting isn't good. It wasn't because it doesn't have a goodstory.It is a perfect little romcom with good acting and charming characters.It's a fluff piece, charming and great for a rainy day at the movies.The only reason why I think this didn't get picked up and get a widerelease is because it isn't a serious drama with dead gays alaBrokeback Mountain and Philadelphia. To get a wide release the gaysmust be noble and/or tortured (Brokeback Mountain). Even if they are OKwith being gay and they are hero they still end up dead(Philadelphia).The two main characters in this movie however have no problem withbeing gay in fact they both are shown to have had serious partnersbefore they meet. This is no coming out story. Yes they are gay but thereal plot here is a love story.Secondly there is little noble other than a true heart and a realdesire to love that we all have in the main characters. The maincharacter is a con man. A very likable con man but he goes against therules for gay characters for the straight audience.Third these boys have sex. Just like any other romantic comedy couplebut since this couple is gay there is indeed some gay sex. This isprobably the biggest reason why it didn't get a distribution deal.Because while gay couple can be in love with each other until they die,any sex they have must happen off screen and be alluded to with simplekiss or even less. While none of the sex is graphic just the thought ofguys getting blow jobs or having lots of hot sex with each other bringsout the homophobia in the biggest straight liberal.It's sad that there is still so much gay stereotyping and homophobiathat this film is such a big deal for people.

(2012-04-10 01:01:40)

A beautiful milestone movie about the depth of love of the human spirit that crosses over sexual boundries.

I stumble upon this movie by accident and was pleasantly surprised. I saw it because I liked Jim Carey as a comedian actor and also because it had a gay romance theme which you hardly see alot of in movies nowadays. I recommend it for everyone because it is a beautiful milestone movie about the depth of love of the human spirit that crosses over sexual boundries.Delightfully entertaining your first viewing and it was the second viewing when I totally fell in love with the film. This is when you can absorb more of it contents because it is such a beautiful spiritual complex movie. You begin to understand the character's motives for love. How he was living his life as a lie but still succeeded in living it true to himself the way he wanted even though all odds where against him. I give Jim Carey my thanks and praise for having the guts to do this film because most high profile Hollywood actors would be artistically challenged and sexually threathen playing this character. His acting and comedic skills displayed in the film makes it transcend and cross over the sexual boundries that puts all predjuices aside.I must admit most gay theme movies do almost alway end up in a tragedy but I still feel this movie is a milestone for gay cinema for becoming more into main stream entertainment. Hopefully future gay theme movies will have happier endings that won't always fit the destined tragedy mold. I found it a must for my movie collection.I believe this movie paves the way for more successful gay theme movie that are thoughly entertaining for all masses. It is a sleeping giant and will speak volumes in the history of gay and mainstream movie cinema.

Raymond

(2012-04-08 06:28:33)

What if you removed the gay part?

Didn't know much about this, I read a couple of comments beforehandwhere straight Americans said they had a hard time watching this. Thetitles and marketing made it look like an indie feel good comedy dramain the style of Sideways or Little Miss Sunshine. Both things are notfar fetched. There are some gay scenes that may be a bit difficult towatch for some, and the movie indeed is a mixture of comedy and drama.What if they were straight, would this be a worthy film? For somereason, that's what I kept thinking for most of the movie. It propablywould've been a worthy film if they had been straight. That's why ifelt the "gay part" was a bit difficult and distracting.There are gays who are very stereotypical, gays who act the way JimCarrey and Ewan McGregor act in this movie. There are a lot of moviesand TV series where they clearly go for the stereotypical gay jokes,I'm just not sure if it worked here as the story was not about beinggay. At least I didn't understand it that way. The couple could've beenstraight, but still they made it clearly a gay movie. Yet I'm prettysure some if not most gays will be insulted by this movie.Don't really know what to make of it. The story is semi-interesting andthe script plays well, but the story combined to some explicit gayjokes is just not a working combination. There have been gay movies,which are not "gay movies", think of Brokeback Mountain. For somereason, they figured they need to go under the belt with this one.Ewan McGregor succeeds in portraying his character, at least muchbetter than Jim Carrey. It's been a long time since I actually sawMcGregor acting. In quite a few movies he's just being himself. Carreyhas a couple of good scenes, but for most of the time he is just beinghis goofy self. As a side note, not intending to be an age racist here,but Jim Carrey starts showing his age. His not a young man anymore.Anyway, an uneven movie, you really don't know what it is, comedy,drama or something else? Did they intend to make some peopleuncomfortable, make teens giggle, insult gays, get audience to careabout the characters? I really don't know.

(2012-04-07 16:41:25)

I had expected more humour, something to really laugh at!

This review is from: I Love You Phillip Morris (DVD) I was quite excited at the thought of a "very humorous" gay story, however, by the time I had got about half way through I just turned it off. Ok, so my sense of humour is different to what they advertised.

(2012-04-02 16:17:37)

An embarrassment and offensive movie for gays and AIDS patients and victims

Hmm, I have an idea...let's make a real-life movie where the lead character is a total gay liar and in the end, we'll completely make a mockery of those who have, and have died of, AIDS. Are you kidding me?? This movie is kind of funny and very touching at points but there's way too much vulgarity and sex than was needed. The ending (his final lie) is such an insult.

nama chakravorty

(2012-04-02 09:45:46)

What A Film!

Based on the real life events of con artist, impostor, and multipleprison escapee Steven Jay Russell, 'I Love You Phillip Morris' is awonderful true story, that teaches you that LOVE is a infectious thing.Glenn Ficarra & John Requa, have handled this true-tragic-story withbeauty. Jim Carrey as Steven Jay Russell is exemplary. He pays tributeto a man, for who, LOVE was the center of attraction. Ewan McGregor asPhillip Morris is outstanding as well. He plays aemotionally-challenged, openly gay and mentally disturbed man withremarkable understanding.On the whole, 'I Love You Phillip Morris' is a heartwarming, depressing& memorable true story into a film. A Proud, Two Thumbs Up!

(2012-03-31 06:36:50)

Can't be the critical diva: this film warmed my heart!

This film came and went in the theaters. I think a whole paper could be written about why the mainstream embraced "Brokeback Mountain" but basically ignored this. Also, in a way, this felt like DiCaprio's "Catch Me If You Can," but with a pink triangle twist.However, this film was really touching. I do think the Boy Georges of the world will like it much more than the Wilt Chamberlains. It's a work with lots of surprises. I'm not sure whether to call it a linear or non-linear narrative, but it'll keep your attention.Please remember, this was based on real life. The Discovery Channnel did a documentary on the real Steven Jay Russell and it's just as interesting. I must admit though, in our age of caller ID, I don't know if pulling off some of these schemes are possible anymore.I thought "Brokeback" was much more "explicit" than this. There is some male nudity here, but blink and you'll miss it. It's not even sexual in nature. But mark well: Mr. MacGregor is internationally known for stripping down and showing his British flesh sword, but he does not expose it in this film.

bandw

(2012-03-30 13:52:31)

No redeeming value

This was sold to me as a comedy, and if I could think of a single laughI had, then I would give it a higher rating. There is an interestingstory to be had here, particularly its being based on the true story ofone Steven Russell (Jim Carrey). Russell was an ultimate con man andjail-breaker, but this presentation is so erratic and exaggerated thatit fell flat for me.Russell winds up in prison where he meets the eponymous Philip Morris(Ewan McGregor), his true love. Carrey and McGregor have about as muchchemistry between them as any two straight guys pretending to be gaywould have. I have rarely been more conscious of actors straining toact a part. How McGregor got involved in this nonsense is beyond me.With regard to its failure as a comedy consider just one scene, thescene where Carrey is being chased and jumps off the ledge of building.He first throws his shoes over and we see that they land softly on somebags in a dumpster. Then Carrey jumps and we see that he has missed thedumpster entirely and is on the ground bleeding. It's supposed to befunny that we think Carrey is so stupid as to jump *away* from thedumpster and that we think he is dead? But not only is he not dead, thestory continues as if nothing had happened.The depictions of how Steven Russell pulled off his cons are so simplethat, as presented, they could not have worked in reality. There is anidea that one can get by in a profession by simply pretending, withoutany preparation. The real Russell was surely cleverer than what isshown here. Can you win a legal case by calling the judge into hischambers and remaining silent until the judge volunteers winning caselaw to you? In fact it would be interesting to know just how the realRussell did accomplish his astonishing feats.I did not find the the frequent references to homosexual practices(e.g. you can either pay for that or perform oral sex) particularlyfunny. A potential audience should be warned that there are someexplicit scenes that many will find disgusting, like the analintercourse scene. Will anyone find that amusing?The tone is all over the map. Most scenes are played for comedy, butthen you have a scene like the one that has Carrey at the bedside of apartner who is in the final moments of his dying of AIDS. That scene isplayed for drama and if you think that Carrey has the chops to pullthat off, then you have a higher ability to suspend disbelief than I.This thing was a total loss for me.

javel66

(2012-03-22 03:26:37)

Hardly you could finish watching...

Well, I read some other reviews, that maybe are OK about some criticpoint of view, analysing the characters, the screen play or the plot;but for me, a simple spectator, it was pretty boring, even though Ienjoyed parts of the movie, the ones that involved some funny stuffwith Jim Carrey and also because of the acting of the two maincharacters. I was fool by the cover of the DVD, that shows a regularJim Carrey smiling. Don't fool your self thinking this will be a funnymovie, is not. Apart from that...nothing else...It wasn't welldefined...was a comedy? drama? I don't recommend this one. I couldn'tfinish watching

(2012-03-21 14:25:12)

EXCELLENT MOVIE...

This review is from: I Love You Phillip Morris (DVD) Jim Carrey was always making over the top funny stories BUT this is entirely different, even for him. Yeah there were some scenes that werent so funny(dressing in lady shorts and ankle boots just to name one)but overall, I like it and it was worth the wait. Some people have hard time with it BUT I say this is better and Jim will always be better than Will Farrell or even Steve Carrell in every and each way possible! Kudos Man

laffnj

(2012-03-19 19:24:58)

Great Story, not executed well.

Not knowing anything about this film before watching, I was absolutelyshocked when I learnt the plot of the story, I was also shocked to seeJim Carrey playing this character, Steven, a gay man in hiding, untilhe has an epiphany and begins to live the life a 'gay'. I feel thismovie was expecting to be so much more then it is because I wouldn'texpect Jim Carrey to play this role without any expectations. EwanMcGregor practically plays the same role as Carrey, just as the secondlead (Phillip Morris) who falls in love with Steven (Carrey) in prison.The story is on the cute side but at times seems a little too odd andcrazy for the movie. The story is pretty good, its funny, its gay andit involve con men. The story starts off slow, as Leslie Mann playingher usual 'wife' character, the entertainment only starts to kick inwhen the real story and plot are uncovered. I Love You Phillip Morrisis a far-fetched story of two men who fall in love in prison and end upliving a crazy life together. The end of the film comes as a surpriseand is the only time that emotions really run high in this movie. Thismovie tries to be something way more then it is, and the ending isprobably the only part of the movie that is enjoyable. I wouldn'trecommend this movie, as there are definitely better films to see butsome would really enjoy it, it definitely comes down to opinion. It'snot a winner, for Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor alike.

totalwonder

(2012-03-19 13:29:56)

Stranger (And More Human) Than Fiction

Certain images and moments of this stunning surprise come to visit mein the middle of my day. Phillip Morris has become someone to me.Someone I crave to revisit. Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor create, notmerely a novelty but a revolution of sorts. They took what is still ataboo and gave it a human, a truly human face. The story seems arecreation of Spielberg's "Catch me if you Can" or Robert Mulligan's"The Great Impostor" but "I love You Philip Morris" has a life all ofits own. Jim Carrey uses what made him famous to present us with aunique, true character, in all its complexities, contradictions anddepth. It is a staggering performance that will make me look at thisactor from now own under a new light and with oodles of renewedrespect. Ewan McGregor comes back to renew his early promise with acharacter of such tender honesty that I'm sure will re-open the book ofhis career with a brand new, brilliant chapter.

(2012-03-12 15:13:40)

Not worth your time

What was this? It certainly wasn't entertainment. It was just erratic, excessively graphic for no reason, unfunny, no clear point. No reason to ever bother with this.

Tommy Donnelly

(2012-03-11 19:03:21)

Carrey and McGregor create a first.

Just when I thought Jim Carrey couldn't surprise me anymore, even if hetried...bang! "I Love You Phillip Morris" Here Jim Carrey creates themost complex and complete character of his career. A bisexual co-man ofall things. An amoral guy who finds love and when I say "finds" we seehim finding it. The romantic entanglement of Carrey and McGregor is areal first because we, even the ones who don't quite get the same sexthing, gets it. I saw the love between this two men and I believed it."Brokeback Mountain" was easier to believe because the tragedy filledwith deceit and self loathing fit perfectly with what I, and manyothers I suspect, believe that kind of union may involve. Here I sawromance in Ewan McGregor's eyes. His disbelief that somebody loves himis out of "The Nights Of Cabiria" - I will certainly see this again.