As a story about gay lovers, it's an innocuous caper film.By John DeSando, WCBE's "It's Movie Time," "Cinema Classics," and "On the Marquee"
"Nobody talks about this, but being gay is really expensive." Steve Russell (Jim Carrey)
Moreover, not many talk just about being gay either in films, but I Love You Phillip Morris does an admirable job of presenting a former straight man, Steve Russell, who finally lets it all hang out to allow his gayness be fulfilled. With the boyish Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor), it's easy to see why Steve falls in love.
In fact, if Frank Abignale (Leonardo DiCaprio) in Spielberg's Catch Me if You Can were gay, this film would be a companion piece. Like Abignale, Russell impersonates across the spectrum of professions: CFO of a health care company, lawyers, doctor, and an FBI agent to boot. As it is, both characters are con men assuming false roles to move their agendas more quickly. Abignale in his film is far more interesting and amusing than Russell, who tends to emote too often about love and fate with fewer costume changes, making a meandering, dull adventure about a newly gay man falling in love and going in and out of jail.
It took two years to get this film into theaters, for good reason, because Hollywood was probably reluctant to invest in such an openly gay film, revealing some bigotry even in this new century. As a caper-con film, it is mildly amusing. As a film about gay romance, it is about as steamy as The Tourist, where mega wattage stars Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie create little heat. It's hard to believe the writers of the outrageously funny Bad Santa could have made this film.
"Love is the reason I'm layin' here dyin,'" says Steve from his hospital bed, and he could be talking as much about his loving family as his lover. So the film does a credible job taxiing between straight and gay scenes but without a hold on either the love or the caper.
John DeSando co-hosts WCBE 90.5's It's Movie Time, Cinema Classics, and On the Marquee, which can be heard streaming at http://publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/ppr/index.shtml and on demand at http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/arts.artsmain Contact him at JDeSando@Columbus.RR.com