Trailer Watch: ‘I Love You Phillip Morris’ But I Don’t Know How I Feel About This New Trailer

Posted by Rob Hunter (rob@filmschoolrejects.com) on December 5, 2008

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.


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  • Harsh to put it in the failed experiments just based on a trailer. The thing that feels off is the tone and it's hard to blame the film for that more the advertising people.
  • From what I understand, I can be a pretty harsh guy... but I didn't say I wouldn't watch the movie once it's released. The tone is definitely off, which is why I was questioning if it's supposed to be a comedy or love story or just generally quirky and unclassifiable.
  • Yeah that's a strange one. Seems like 2 different movies, neither of which I'm really interested in. The prison love stuff seemed like an SNL Digital Short or something.
  • CapKwik
    I was so confused when I watched it, it was almost like they were trying to overact. The first part looked kind of interresting. Kind of like Kevin Klein in In & Out kind of way. But then it took the whole criminal side and turned into an overacted love storey that almost looks made to parody something. I hope they put out another trailer that shows the story a bit better, because I'm interrested now.
  • Its too mixed, it didn't made sense when everything seems to unravel. First you think did he get an amnesia then he turned out gay, then he thought running a scheme and then he ended up in the prison and fell in love w/ Philip Morris? it kinda did got confused.
  • Fair point. I kind of hope they stay serious to an extent. Not to say no laughs just to not have laughs at the expense of emotion.
  • Snapdickenson
    I watched a different version of this trailer on Youtube and I must say it seemed QUITE FRESH! Talk about a story that's full of surprises. Personally, I don't mind hybrid films that test and expand the limits of genre, and am all for new and expansive ways to experience stories. The best films are the ones that catch you up in them, no matter the device; and from what I've heard this one has plenty of that in store... unless, of course, you're homophobic. If this is the case, it might be difficult to watch ace ventura do a ride 'em cowboy sex scene...
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