Defamer has a first look at Jim Carrey on the set of I Love You Phillip Morris. From the writers of Bad Santa, based on the novel by Steve McVicker which is actually based on a true life story. Carrey plays Russell, a criminal who falls in love with his cell mate, Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor). After Morris’ release from prison, Russell attempts a variety of bizarre prison escapes in hopes of reuniting with the love of his life. The movie was apparently pitched as “Catch Me if You Can meets Brokeback Mountain”. You can read the actual book description below:
Steven Russell possessed unusual talents-he was a jailhouse Houdini with a specialty in fraud. Staging his escapes on a series of Friday the thirteenths, he managed to outwit the Texas criminal justice experts in four ingenious jailbreaks. The rst time, he simply waved a walkie-talkie convincingly and was buzzed out by an affable guard. Another time he used a green pen and a bucket of water to concoct surgical scrubs and sauntered out. His ensuing escapes grew more audacious, as did his plans to reunite with his co-convict lover. Award-winning journalist Steve McVicker captures with a pitch-perfect blend of humor and disbelief the real-life story of Steven Russell, a con man so shrewd, relentless, and incorrigible that he’d be walking free today, if it weren’t for his fatal aw-he’s in love with a man named Phillip Morris. Written with exclusive cooperation and disclosure from Russell, who’s serving 45 years plus 99 years in a maximum-security jail (at least, for now), I Love You Phillip Morris tells an oddball American tall tale of what can happen when mocking the law, a daredevil spirit, and undying love collide.
April 29th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Jim Carrey hasn’t been in a good movie since Ace Ventura IMO. I hate to say that because he’s Canadian, and I like to support Canadian talent, but I think it’s true. I think he needs to take some time away from film to do something else for a while.
April 29th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
@Trebek
Since the first Ace Ventura or the second?
April 29th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
What did you rush out and buy the book?
@Trebek
Dumb & Dumber was actually a landmark comedy film, and I think this was probably his funniest role to date.
April 29th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Jay: I agree. I believe that one day people will realize the genius of that film.
April 29th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I think it should be noted that the man he’s groping is Rodrigo Santoro, better known as Xerxes from 300 and Karl from LOST.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
No good film since Ace Ventura and then Dumb and Dumber is mentioned? I know it isn’t a comedy but what about Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind? That pegged up Carrey quite a few notches in my book, even if it is hardly applicable in this case.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Jim Carrey is great. First of all, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. That’s really all that needs to be said. But The Truman Show was awesome, The Majestic was pretty good, Me, Myself & Irene and Fun with Dick and Jane are both funny and massively underrated and while Man on the Moon was a flawed movie about a character that nobody really cares about - Carrey did a good job with it.
IMO Carrey has got a bunch of fantastic comedic and serious films left in him. He just needs to work with the right people…
April 29th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Jim Carrey is awesome when he’s not doing his rubberface schtick. ESOSM, Truman Show, and the dark and extremly underrated comedy Cable Guy are all great films. This and his upcoming Jason Reitman film seem to be in that vein, so I really can’t wait.
April 29th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
@ Trebek
Right on!
So, who thought it was a good idea to pitch the movie as Catch Me If You Can meets Brokeback Mountain? That kinda spells box office underperformer meets Western. Neither one are particularly a good thing in Hollywood land right now. Now I’ve got a terrible image of Jim Carrey having “relations” with Ewen McGregor. That’s not a pretty image. First rubberface is in a sex scene with Virginia Madsen and now this.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
fun with dick and jane & the number 23 both sucked. no time to leave an example. jim carrey’s last great film was the majestic, go see that.
April 30th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
jim carrey is just brilliant!! ok…jim carrey in love with ewan mcgregor…i know i will love this movie ;) i also know that it’s gonna be great…jc and em don’t do bad movies!! yay…can’t wait!!
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I cant wait for this, I am married to a Phillip Morris, he is gunna get some stick!