After sitting on the shelf for several years in North America with no theatrical release, and a baton-like passing of distributors, it seems Roadside Attractions are gearing up for a limited release on December 3rd, in 3 cities to start: NY, SF, LA) for the Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor comedy, I Love You Phillip Morris. The film seems (from the trailer, anyway) to have a fair bit of tonal shifting going on from feel-good to broad slapstick to satire, and is based on the real life story of Steven Jay Russell. This is perhaps on a surprise when you consider it was directed by the two writers of Terry Zwigoff’s Bad Santa. Does it need mentioning that that is a handsome One-Sheet?

Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) leads a seemingly average life – an organ player in the local church, happily married to Debbie (Leslie Mann), and a member of the local police force. That is until he has a severe car accident that leads him to the ultimate epiphany: he’s gay and he’s going to live life to the fullest – even if he has to break the law to do it. Taking on an extravagant lifestyle, Steven turns to cons and fraud to make ends meet and is eventually sent to the State Penitentiary where he meets the love of his life, a sensitive, soft-spoken man named Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor). His devotion to freeing Phillip from jail and building the perfect life together prompts him to attempt (and often succeed at) one impossible con after another. Told with an uncanny sense of humor and a lot of heart, I Love You Phillip Morris is an oddball tale of what can happen when the legal system, a daredevil spirit and undying love collide.