I really wanted to love I Love You Philip Morris. Everything the movie had displayed in the trailers pointed towards a moving yet blackly funny story of love and heists gone wrong, and had the promise of two of Hollywood’s most game actors, Jim Carrey and Ewan MacGregor. But alas, I could not bring myself to fall in love with it.
First time writer-directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa have written a tight and funny script, but its in the execution of this that the film slips away from them slightly. Tonally, the film jumps from dark drama to belly laughs and back again so quickly its unnerving. The dramatic moments are played just as well as the gags, but to me it seems as if the film cannot decide which way it wants to lean, and in the end comes off a little confused.
Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of things to like about the film, most notably the performances from the two leads. This is no bandwagon-jumping gay film, Carrey’s Steven Russel and MacGregor’s titular Philip Morris truly fall in love and the scenes they share are as tender and sweet as any rom-com out there and both actors throw themselves into the roles; Carrey as the manically determined liar and Ewan as a overly sweet and caring submissive. And it’s properly funny, especially in its excellent opening fifteen minutes.
But all in all, Philip Morris is a funny yet flawed story that should be applauded for the brave and confident efforts of two directors finding their feet as helmers. I can’t wait to see what they make next.
July 7, 2010 at 5:11 pm |
“First time writer-directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa have written a tight and funny script”
Very nice review. However, this is not their first time writing. They wrote Bad Santa. This is their first time directing.
July 7, 2010 at 5:34 pm |
I knew they had written something before! Thanks man. This script had much more real emotion than Bad Santa, hope they continue to develop like this.