Plot
Originally planned as a silly vehicle for Chris Farley, in the hands of director Ben Stiller and star Jim Carrey, The Cable Guy became an opportunity for Carrey to flex some of his darker comedic muscles as stalker Chip Douglas. Matthew Broderick plays Steven, an average Joe who is forlorn over his recent breakup with girlfriend Robin (Leslie Mann). When he moves into a new apartment, Steven comes in contact with Chip, who shows up to hook up the cable. Before he knows it, and whether he likes it or not, Steven has a new best-friend in the obnoxious and clingy Chip. However, Steven soon learns that obnoxious is a walk in the park compared to Chip's behavior when Steven tells him he doesn't want to be his pal anymore. What's worse, no one -- including Robin or his family -- believes Steven when he accuses the seemingly harmless Chip of being a malevolent menace. George Segal and Jack Black also star along with Stiller, who plays twins loosely-based on the Menendez brothers. ~ Matthew Tobey, RoviReview
A vastly underappreciated film and the target of much critical scorn, Ben Stiller's The Cable Guy might have been better understood were it not both Jim Carrey's first $20 million payday and a major departure from the lighthearted outings that brought him huge box-office success. Carrey is brilliant as a lonely cable installer who overstays his welcome, pathologically latching onto customers to breed companionship from brief encounters. But the movie wouldn't be such a compelling study of the complexity of ending an unwanted friendship were it not for the subtle performance by Matthew Broderick, who balances out the hyperactive Carrey and struggles with how to handle this enthusiastic pest. With a savvy media critic like Stiller at the helm, The Cable Guy is actually more of a wicked satire of popular culture than a Jim Carrey vehicle. Lou Holtz's screenplay is a succession of dynamite set pieces: a testosterone-laden basketball game, a creepy game of "Porno Password" at a family dinner, a gonzo karaoke jam, and a duel with real weapons at a Medieval Times theme restaurant, which is the film's most memorable scene. The key is that each represents the increasingly unbalanced Carrey's attempt to mimic something he's seen on TV, which serves as his only behavioral guideline and standard for how his life should be. Stiller's own turn as a famous child actor involved in a televised murder trial lends backbone to the film's biting satirical thread. A supporting cast that includes Jack Black, George Segal, Leslie Mann, and Andy Dick adds humor and depth to the dark commentary, and Stiller's inventive camerawork elevates the film further. The Cable Guy may one day earn the reputation of an overlooked gem in the rich careers of both Carrey and Stiller. ~ Derek Armstrong, RoviCast
- Jim Carrey - Chip Douglas, the Cable Guy
- Matthew Broderick - Steven Kovacs
- Leslie Mann - Robin Harris
- Jack Black - Rick
- George Segal - Earl Kovacs
- Diane Baker - Mrs. Kovacs
Credit
Jeff Knipp - Art Director, Juel Bestrop - Casting, William S. Beasley - Co-producer, Erica Phillips - Costume Designer, Stuart Hagen - First Assistant Director, Frank Davis - First Assistant Director, Nilo Otero - First Assistant Director, Ben Stiller - Director, Steve Weisberg - Editor, Bernie Brillstein - Executive Producer, Brad Grey - Executive Producer, Marc Gurvitz - Executive Producer, John Ottman - Composer (Music Score), Jerry Cantrell - Songwriter, Sharon Seymour - Production Designer, Robert Brinkmann - Cinematographer, Andrew Licht - Producer, Jeffrey A. Mueller - Producer, Judd Apatow - Producer, Maggie Martin - Set Designer, Jason Weil - Set Designer, Nelson Stoll - Sound/Sound Designer, Lou Holtz Jr. - Screenwriter, Tom Perry - Re-Recording Mixer| The Cabinet of Jan Svankmajer (1984 Film), The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (2006 Film) | |
| The Cactus (2005 Film), The Cactus Kid (1934 Film) |
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