The Case for FilmFest 2010 Part 2

The third and final flick of my FilmFest season and another packed house at the Embassy had a title that reminded me of cigarettes, though I don't recall anyone in the film really smoking: I Love You, Phillip Morris.

The title is a bit deceiving though because the actual story has very little to do with Phillip Morris, or the love for said man. It's actually to do with the person who utters these romantic words, Steven Russell (though I kind of wanted for him to be called Terrence), played by Jim Carrey.

It has to be said that Jim Carrey is a very versatile actor, as he can make complete tit of himself in some utter rubbish (for example, Liar, Liar) and also be quite soulful in some thought-provoking films (such as Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind). I Love You Phillip Morris lies at the "thought-provoking" end of the spectrum, though it definitely gives Carey the chance to let loose every so often.

Because Steven is a con artist. Carey's charms and physical comedic gifts are put to great use, and you can believe that his (as one person I know wonderfully summaries the phenomenon) "bulls#!t baffles brains" strategies completely win over those he meets. When dealing with people one-on-one, he is smart enough to understand how the system works, personable enough to win people over, and then cunning enough to let those he deals with form their own assumptions and make the next move.

It all reminded me of Catch Me If You Can a few years ago, with Leonardo DiCaprio playing the devious man who scammed millions on the back of a keen intellect and then ended up working for those very same companies he conned as an anti-conner. Of course, that was back then. Now, computer checks and the like means people tend to target the weakest chink in the security armour, people's gullibility, and that kind of personal humiliation is not often rewarded with cushy jobs.

No, Steven is a criminal through and through. He gets caught, gets out, gets into trouble, goes back in, and the cycle repeats itself. But he is not motivated by personal greed: the film shows Steven as a man wanting to shower gifts on his family and lovers, with only his lack of an honest job getting in the way. So, to get overcome the difference between his working reality and lifestyle aspirations, he gets some dishonest ones.

Most of the situations he gets himself into are hilarious. There are odd moments of reflection and sorrow, but the predominant wind is breezy and warm. Ewan MacGregor as Phillip is fine, and his scenes with Carey have a fair amount of chemistry, but really he is not give a huge amount to do. This is Carey's film, and he takes us along on a great ride of amoral yet (relatively) harmless behaviour.

The only bum note I thought was the sideswipe at "Governor Bush" that comes over the films credits. There seemed little point crediting the ex President as the "persecutor" of the real life lovable rogue. Sure, the film is obviously going to attract a very liberal audience (gay charmer swindles stupid corporate bosses to give ex-wife and child and the loves of his life the luxuries he thinks they deserve), but this guy is still a crook. He may be smarter than the average bear, or Texan, but criminal activities like his do deserve punishment. It's just a pity when bigger criminals are able to get away with far more serious crimes.

Verdict: I Love You Phillip Morris has a really good role for Carey, playing to his strengths and letting the audience laugh along with him and his character's wily ways. Light and charming, there's not a huge amount of depth to the whole thing, but that is really not a problem at all. 7 years in a pale yellow prison outfit out of 10.

If you have not done so already, make sure to check out the Not Kate's review of The Room from the other night. Glorious.

And for a fairly comprehensive overview of the FilmFest's offerings, check out Mr Anderson's movie matrix.