Who said Romance is dead?
A caption stating 'The following events really took place' appears on the screen at the start of this movie. I was unfamiliar with Steven Russell's story and read very little about the movie prior to seeing it. If I had missed the opening caption, I would have said it was the most far fetched drama I'd seen in a long time. Instead, what I got was a left of centre romantic comic caper.
Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) is for want of a better worth a con man. His whole life is one cover up, even to the exent of his marriage. He eventually comes out to his family and friends after a near death experience and moves to a sunnier state to live as an openly gay man. To his dismay he discovers that being gay is expensive and sets out in the only way he knows to finance his lifestyle. After one scam too many his antics land him in prison. It's here that he meets and falls in love with Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor). Being the con man that he is, Russell sets out to plan their escape. Morris goes along with Russell's plans as he is obsessed with him but is a by the book type of guy, therefore is always on the edge of suspicion.
Be it in or out of prison, Russell is constantly trying to better both their lives and there is a scheme of sorts constantly on the go. It's amazing the lengths he will go to just to sate his lover.
Although Carrey's performance is convincing, he overdoes it on the silly 'Mask' faces and just when you were putting his previous slapstick performances behind you, he does a silly voice! McGregor on the other hand is excellent as Morris and camps it up just the right amount. Their on screen chemistry as a loved up couple is totally convincing and at times quite touching.
Due to it's gay content it won't appeal to a mass audience which is a shame as Russell's experiences rarely happen to one individual in a lifetime and deserve to be seen. I felt that the movie was more suited to the small screen rather than the big screen and I'm sure it will be a bigger hit with dvd and tv viewers on it's eventual release. In saying that if you are looking for a movie that's not laugh out loud but charming, funny and entertaining then give this a go - you won't be disappointed!
Score: 6/10
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