I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS (2009) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

Written by - Glenn Ficarra, John Requa (based on a book by Steve McVicker)

Starring - Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor

"It is quite strange how I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS somehow managed to escape critical consensus, audience popularity and even nods come Hollywood award season. 

This comedy based on a true story tells the story of STEVEN JAY RUSSELL, an eighties and nineties con artist who falls in love with the titular Philip Morris while incarcerated. 

In many ways, the film replicates the excitement of STEVEN SPIELBERG's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, with a more romantic and homosexual twist. The fact that the film carefully handles its homosexual storyline with taste and comes across as incredibly entertaining is a point in favour for filmmakers GLENN FICARRA and JOHN REQUA, particularly when consideringt that I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS marked their feature directorial debut. 

But the whole film's credibility is absolutely effective also because of the lead performances by JIM CARREY and EWAN MCGREGOR. Their respective performances are indeed extremely respectful of their characters, and despite the comedic undertones that that film has, they never overdo their performances despite the difficulty in so doing. To their credit, their chemistry also makes the romantic side of the narrative absolutely believable and solid."

Biopic, France/USA