Honestly, if you saw a script where a guy escapes from a maximum-security prison by faking his own death from AIDS using laxatives and a stolen green highlighter, you’d probably roll your eyes. You’d call it "too Hollywood." But that’s the thing about the Jim Carrey Phillip Morris connection—it’s all true. Or at least, "really happened, it really did," as the film’s opening crawl cheekily insists.
The movie, titled I Love You Phillip Morris, is easily the most polarizing project of Jim Carrey’s career. It’s a dark comedy, a prison break thriller, and a tender gay romance all wrapped into one chaotic package. When it premiered at Sundance back in 2009, it didn't just ruffle feathers; it practically plucked them.
The Story That Was Too "Gay" for Hollywood
For a long time, this movie was the industry’s biggest hot potato. You had two of the biggest stars on the planet—Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor—playing soulmates. On paper, that’s a box-office goldmine. But in the late 2000s, major US distributors were terrified.
The film follows Steven Russell (Carrey), a former cop and church organist who lives a "perfect" life with his wife, Debbie (played by the always great Leslie Mann). After a near-fatal car crash, Steven has an epiphany: he’s gay, and he’s done living a lie. He moves to Miami, realizes that "being gay is really expensive," and turns to white-collar crime to fund a lavish lifestyle of Versace and jet skis.
Eventually, he lands in a Texas prison, where he meets the soft-spoken, doe-eyed Phillip Morris (McGregor). It’s love at first sight. The rest of the movie is basically a series of increasingly insane "grand gestures" where Steven escapes from prison multiple times just to be with Phillip.
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Why it almost never came out
Despite the star power, the movie sat on a shelf for nearly two years. Distributors were reportedly spooked by the graphic nature of some scenes—not because they were violent, but because they depicted unapologetic, same-sex intimacy. It wasn't Brokeback Mountain. It wasn't a tragedy about "tortured souls." It was a fast-paced, funny, and sometimes raunchy comedy.
Basically, the industry didn't know how to market it. Was it a "Jim Carrey movie" for families? Definitely not. Was it a prestige "Oscar bait" film? Too goofy. It finally got a limited release in 2010 through Roadside Attractions, but by then, the "damaged goods" label had already stuck in some circles.
The Real Steven Russell: King Con
If you think Carrey’s performance is over the top, you should look up the real Steven Jay Russell. This guy is a literal legend in the world of con artists.
The movie actually leaves out some of the more "boring" crimes because they're just too numerous to count. Russell had an IQ of 163 and used it for the most ridiculous things. He didn't just escape; he improvised.
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- The Highlighter Trick: He once collected green highlighters from the prison's art room, squeezed the ink into a bucket of water, and dyed his white prison uniform green. He then walked out the front door pretending to be a doctor in surgical scrubs.
- The Judge Phone Call: He once called the bail clerk's office, pretended to be a judge, and lowered his own bail from $900,000 to $45,000. It worked. He paid the lower amount and walked out.
- The AIDS Hoax: This is the big one. He faked the symptoms of late-stage AIDS by starving himself and using laxatives to look emaciated. He then used a prison typewriter to forge medical records and a death certificate. The prison system was so convinced (and likely so relieved to not have to pay for his care) that they released him to a nursing home—where he promptly called the prison pretending to be a doctor to report his own "death."
Jim Carrey's "Unhinged" Performance
In the world of Jim Carrey, you usually get one of two things: the rubber-faced manic energy of Ace Ventura or the soulful, quiet vulnerability of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
I Love You Phillip Morris is the only time he managed to do both simultaneously.
He plays Steven Russell with a desperate, manic need to be loved. You see the "mask" he wears—the con man—slipping constantly. Critics at the time, like those from Variety and The Guardian, noted that this might be his most complex work. He isn't just playing for laughs; he’s playing a man who is literally addicted to the "high" of the con and the "high" of his love for Phillip.
McGregor, for his part, is the perfect foil. While Carrey is a hurricane, McGregor is the calm center. His Phillip Morris is sweet, naive, and heartbreakingly loyal to a man who can't stop lying to him.
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Where Are They Now?
This is where the comedy turns into a bit of a tragedy. The real-life ending isn't quite as "happily ever after" as the movie's vibe suggests.
- Steven Russell: As of the mid-2020s, Steven is still heavily scrutinized by the Texas justice system. For a long time, he was serving a 144-year sentence, much of it in 23-hour-a-day administrative segregation (solitary confinement). The state of Texas was essentially embarrassed by how many times he made them look like fools. However, recent reports indicate he was finally granted parole in 2023 and released in 2024.
- Phillip Morris: The real Phillip Morris was released from prison in 2006. He actually had a cameo in the movie (he’s the lawyer at the end). He has mostly stayed out of the spotlight, though he has spoken in interviews about how much he truly loved Steven, despite the madness.
How to Watch It Today
If you’re looking to find the Jim Carrey Phillip Morris film today, it’s often tucked away on streaming services like Paramount+, Prime Video, or available for rent on Apple TV.
It’s a "cult classic" in the truest sense. It’s not a movie for everyone. If you’re uncomfortable with seeing Ace Ventura in a passionate embrace with Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re going to have a weird time. But if you want a masterclass in acting and a story that proves reality is weirder than anything a writer could dream up, it’s essential viewing.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Read the Book: If the movie feels too fast, check out I Love You Phillip Morris: A True Story of Life, Love, and Prison Breaks by Steve McVicker. It dives much deeper into the technical aspects of the cons.
- Watch for the Nuance: Pay attention to the scene where Steven finds his biological mother. It’s the "origin story" for his abandonment issues and explains why he spends the rest of his life trying to buy love.
- Context Matters: Remember that this movie was filmed in 2008. The fact that a major star like Carrey took this role at that time was a massive risk for his career, which makes the performance even more daring in retrospect.
The film serves as a reminder that the most "expensive" thing about living an authentic life isn't the clothes or the cars—it's the cost of the lies we tell ourselves before we finally get there.