Directed by: Glenn Ficarra and John RequaStarring: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro, Aunjanue Ellis, Kennon Kepper, Marylouise Burke, Annie Golden.Rated R for sexual content and language

Running Time: 98 minutes

GRADE: B+

Laugh-out-loud hilarious one moment and darkly tragic the next, “I Love you Phillip Morris’” tone is wildly uneven, never quite sure of what sort of movie it wants to be—and I loved it for it.

Rather than open with the perfunctory “Based on a true story,” “I Love you Phillip Morris” anticipates your coming incredulity and flat out states: “This really happened. (Beat) It really did.” After a near fatal car crash causes him to reexamine his life, regular churchgoer and ex-police officer Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) leaves his wife (Leslie Mann) and daughter to live the life he’d always denied himself—as a flamboyantly gay man. Soon, Steven discovers that living life to its fullest is expensive and he turns to insurance fraud to make ends meet. Eventually the law catches up with him, but it is in prison that Steven meets the bashful Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor), the love of his life. Once back on the outside, his love for Phillip compels him to undertake one seemingly impossible, audacious con after another (including not one, not two, not three, but four separate prison escapes) until the house of cards finally comes tumbling down around him.

There is no mistaking the influence of Spielberg’s “Catch Me if You Can” here, even if “Phillip Morris” doesn’t try nearly as hard to show you how Steven pulled off the cons. Instead, “I Love You Phillip Morris” draws its energy almost exclusively from the cat and mouse game. This is a film about a man constantly on the run and making things up as he goes along—this produces a joyous and infectiously buoyant viewing experience. When the film isn’t trying to make us laugh, it tells a heartfelt story with an uncanny sense of humor and tenderness.

“I Love you Phillip Morris” is Carrey’s boldest and most daring role ever. His Steven is an amalgam of his career to this date—he’s both allowed to be the clown we all know and love, yet restrained by bitterly serious moments that show off a legitimate, if rarely used, dramatic musculature. Steven has lived a life of lies and no matter how compelling his love, his actions demand consequences. We, like Phillip are never quite sure what to make of Steven (he is the ultimate unreliable narrator), a facet that goes a long way to explaining some of the film’s irregularities. The only truth we (and he) are sure of is his love for Phillip. Steven isn’t given a whole lot of character development and Phillip even less. McGregor’s job here is basically to sit around and look adorable, which he accomplishes effortlessly.

“I Love you Phillip Morris” had a rocky road getting to the screen. Concerned that audiences wouldn’t be interested in a conman comedy about to overtly gay lovers, the film was shelved for months, eventually reversing the natural order of things and opening overseas before finally making its way to America. The film is not remotely the pornographic hothouse the rumor mill has made it out to be, nor does it set the gay rights movement back a decade. While seizing on certainly convenient (and conveniently funny) stereotypes, it also subverts more than it indulges, particularly near the end of the film when a long-established punishment for wickedness receives a last minute reprieve. Ultimately, what makes the film refreshing and accessible is the coincidental nature with which the film addresses the main characters’ sexual orientation. Neither the lead characters’ relationship nor the film are trying to be subversive or strike a blow for homosexual issues—they are just trying to be, surely the best indicator yet that equality is nearly within our culture’s grasp.

Canada’s Ryder Hesjedal kisses the trophy after winning the 95th Giro d’Italia, Tour of Italy cycling race, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 27, 2012. Hesjedal won the 95th Giro d’Italia finishing 16 seconds ahead of Joaquin Rodriguez in the general classification after overhauling the Spaniard’s lead on the final stage in Milan. Photo by Fabio Ferrari, AP Photo