Gay Prison Comedy 'I Love You Phillip Morris' Might Go Directly to DVD

A film in which Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor play gay lovers may not make it to American theaters because of its frank depictions of gay sex. Times of London reports that I Love You Phillip Morris is facing a huge uphill battle to find U.S. distributors despite the marquee names attached. Lewis Tice, a publicity agent at TLA releasing, told the paper, “The depiction of the sexual activity was far more than I’ve ever seen in a mainstream film with a mainstream celebrity. There’s a graphic sex scene in the first 10 minutes that I was surprised to see.” In the film, which premiered at Sundance in January, Carrey plays a married policeman who comes out of the closet and then enters a life of crime to fund his new lifestyle. After he's arrested, Carrey falls in love with Phillip Morris, played by McGregor. Explains Scott Stiffler, author of Why Hollywood Avoids Gay Movies, "Mostly straight, multiplex-going audiences don’t want to see a romantic comedy in which two dudes get it on; unless it is meant as a joke." As proof, Stiffler points to the Oscar-winning Brokeback Mountain being significantly outperformed by I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. Phillip Morris producers aren't abandoning hope; the film will be released in Britain this summer, and the film is being re-edited with the goal of toning down some of the more offending material for a sanitized U.S. theatrical run. If that version fails to attract distributors, then the movie will likely head directly to DVD in the states and bypass the multiplexes altogether. It's a real shame that, even though there is likely an audience in America that would pay to see the film, either distributors don't want to be associated with its content or they just don't believe it justifies the expenditure to market a Jim Carrey-Ewan McGregor film that will turn out to be entirely different than the expectations. But, come on: Hostel 2 had a distribution deal and I have a hard time believing there's as much gay sex in Phillip Morris as there is depravity in the Eli Roth sequel.

Comments

[Psyko Tek]

yeah i don't wanna see hostel or phillip morris

don't sound fun at all

[Andy]

Apparently there's always a market for violent depravity, but gay sex is the kiss of death. This kind of thing makes us as Americans look so infantile and backwards - ridiculous!

[ed]

once you go gay, you can't go back. think of all the actresses who still need jobs.

[carrey_fan]

I don't think it is right for a movie with such big actors in it to go strait to DVD any one who is a loyal fan will go see it and those 2 men have more than enough fans to make it in theaters. And hell If Broke Back Mountain could make it in theaters then why cant they put this one through. Are they afraid that the "CHURCHY" people will stand up against them? That has not stopped them before and this country Is becoming more pro gay with each passing year. I have personally seen every Jim Carrey movie in that past 12 years on opening day and I am not about to sit back and lat this one go with out a fight and there are a lot of people that are right there with me.

[ETG]

Hope the deleted scenes are on the DVD!

[zebraluvr2020]

Who wouldn't wanna see this? I mean, look at the guys! It's a dream come true!