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Jim Carrey’s Yes Man is due in theaters on December 19th, and it looks to be a return to his successful Liar Liar brand of comedy.  “Successful” doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be funny or make money, just that it looks similar to films that once worked for the elastic-jawed actor.  Carrey’s next film however, I Love You Phillip Morris, is a different animal all together.  Check out this early trailer.

See what I mean?  I Love You Phillip Morris seems to be a hybrid of sorts… it looks at first like his more traditional comedies that mix physical comedy and quick editing for comedic effect, but then becomes a love story?  And it’s based on a true story as well, one that has nothing to do with big tobacco.

I Love You Phillip Morris is about a happily married man named Steven Russell (Carrey) who one day has a car accident that changes his life.  He wakes up realizing that not only is he gay, but he’s also a thief, con man, and embezzler.  It’s not clear if he was born with all those traits or if they’re lifestyle choices.  Russell is arrested and thrown in jail where he meets and falls in love with Phillip Morris, played by Ewan McGregor.  Their prison courtship is interrupted when Russell is transferred elsewhere, but can mere walls, bars, or security guards stop a heart in love?  I think not.  And neither does Russell apparently as he goes on to escape from prison four times in attempts to return to Morris.

I honestly don’t know what to make of the film based on the trailer.  Comedy?  Love story?  Coen-esque tale of hijinks and character quirks?  My current inclination is to lump this in with Carrey’s The Number 23 and Batman Forever as failed experiments.  Thoughts?

The film also stars Leslie Mann as Russell’s wife, and is written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa.  The duo previously wrote Bad Santa and the Bad News Bears reboot.  I Love You Phillip Morris opens February 25th, 2009.

What do you think of the trailer?  Boring, right?  Yeah, I thought so too.