Carrey Gambles on Gay Jailbird Role

Ventures outside comedy, like I Love You Phillip Morris, haven't been big at box office
By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 21, 2009 11:35 AM CST

Jim Carrey is getting rave reviews for his new film, I Love You Phillip Morris, but the story of a cop-turned-con man who repeatedly breaks out of jail to be with his former cellmate is a gamble for the actor, Reuters reports. “I don’t think it’s a gay movie,” said Carrey. “It really is about the lengths we go to for acceptance and love.”

Carrey—whose non-comedic roles have often flopped at the box office—admitted the con-man role was a challenge. “If I were to be really honest, there’s a homophobic voice that rises up inside me,” he said. “Will I like kissing Ewan [McGregor]?” The reviews are overwhelmingly positive, but the film might struggle to find an audience given its “sexual bluntness,” as one noted. (More Jim Carrey stories.)

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