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To be honest, I was thinking that this was going to be just another wacky and hilarious Jim Carrey comedy but when I watched it, I was surprised by it. I mean, the film is funny but I wouldn't call a comedy. It is more of a dramatic love story. It will leave you jaw-dropped because of the heartbreaking drama within it plus the heart warming pleasure too. To be fair, this probably isn't as underestimated like Brokeback Mountain and Milk are because it looks like a comedy and it stars two very famous Hollywood actors.
Steven starts off as a happily married police officer who spends his hours off work searching for his biological mother who gave him up as a child. But after a car crash, Steven leaves his life and family behind to go out into the world and be his true self. He moves to Miami and finds a boyfriend and from then on he starts living a gay life as well as being a conman. When his work as a conman catches up with him, he is sent to prison and falls in love with Phillip Morris. After that, Steven and Phillip try and keep their relationship intact but severe consequences lie ahead. I couldn't believe Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor in this film! I mean, them two are a gay couple! When I was watching this, it really did look like they were in love as in real life. They are another two special actors who are straight who portray characters that are gay (Examples: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Sean Penn, James Franco). Jim Carrey's performance as Steven Russell was absolutely fantastic! I Love You Phillip Morris is one of the three films that shows that Carrey can be an actor of drama as well as comedy. The other two I am referring to are Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind and The Truman Show. Ewan McGregor was like "My God, Ewan!" because, like Jim, playing a gay character was the last thing I was expecting him to play and what a fine job he did! Together, Jim and Ewan worked together very hard to send the public a very important message. I'll be damned if either one of those two actors aren't nominated for at least a Golden Globe for Best Actor Drama or Best Supporting Actor.
In all honesty, Glenn Ficarra and John Requa together create something that I think everyone would enjoy because of the comedy involved. It perhaps isn't as good as Brokeback Mountain or Milk but it was still awesome! I'll be keeping an eye on those two directors to see what is next on their list.
Overall, I Love You Phillip Morris is a beautiful yet heartbreaking true story that will low you away due to performances from Carrey and McGregor but will make you chuckle on occasions. Jim Carrey's best performance since Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind and perhaps Ewan McGregor's most emotional performance so far.
8/10
