The Cable Guy
The Cable Guy
PG-13 | 14 June 1996 (USA)
The Cable Guy Trailers

When recently single Steven moves into his new apartment, cable guy Chip comes to hook him up—and doesn't let go. Initially, Chip is just overzealous in his desire to be Steven's pal, but when Steven tries to end the 'friendship', Chip shows his dark side. He begins stalking Steven, who's left to fend for himself because no one else can believe Chip's capable of such behaviour.

Reviews
VividSimon

Simply Perfect

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Curapedi

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

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Roman Sampson

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

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Nicole

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

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jodyfranz

I saw this movie twice and liked it a bit better the second viewing and found Carrey's character to be a bit more likeable than I did previously. But I have come to the realization I really have to be in a very specific mood to watch AND enjoy a dark comedy.I didn't love this move and I didn't hate it and I think it's safe to say there are a lot more enjoyable comedies out there I would rather watch or rewatch before I ever put this VHS tape in again.I would recommend The Truman Show or Dumb and Dumber if you want to get some Carrey comedy in your system before recommending this one.

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John Brooks

This movie is by no means a classic in the official sense, but it could def be seen as something of a cult classic. Jim Carrey's character could've been one of the most iconic for this sort of American comedy, if not for how overly exaggerated he becomes towards the end, a recurrent flaw in American films. Carrey, as usual, slips right into this insane, wild character like he'd been playing him forever and his range as a comedian and just actor overall seems infinite (possibly more ?). Some parts are flatout hilarious, and you might really laugh out loud. It's definitely very enjoyable and fun, but towards the 3/4's of the film it starts to go over-the-top too much and that's when the movie loses its focus and as a viewer your interest drops, and the movie-makers choose to go berserk with the comedy rather than maintain that somewhat decent level of credibility. Verdict: Good watch. Too bad about the last chapter there.

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Vicente Garcia (vicegarcisap)

The Cable Guy is absolutely an underrated film snubbed by movie critics. Maybe it is the fact that Jim Carrey has shifted from a very comical movie filled with exaggerated facial expressions and slapstick gags of the movies the Mask and Ace Ventura. It is quite an unusual shift of Jim who reaches the title of an A-list comedian that time. Some critics seem to be distraught that Carry received an enormous $20 million paycheck. Carrey gave a remarkable performance to Chip Douglas (not his real name). He clearly gave the role justice for providing the audience a clear view of how twisted, psychotic, and creepy his character is. He befriends with Matthew Broderick (Steven) which seems bewildered by Carrey's unusual antics. But they became friends in the earlier part of the film. Many see Broderick's performance as bland and boring but I actually think that it fits for his role. He is just living his normal and dull life and then suddenly a happy-go-lucky cable guy just introduced himself and Steven's life was little by little turned upside down ever since. A story about man meet stalker is kind of a cliché but how the movie revolves is superb. A random guy offering free cable in exchange for friendship and companion is the start of a weird and unfortunate series of event for Matthew. Some of Carrey's fans that time have been grouped into two after The Cable Guy was released: those who love the movie and those who hated it because it is not the Carrey they know from the Mask and Ace Ventura. But throughout the years, the film receives an increasing acceptance not only from the fans but also to movie critics. I can say that The Cable Guy is one of the best dark comedies in the 90's. It can also be considered as a thriller (but in a comedic way) because of Chip's sadistic and sinister character. Back then, I find the nightmare scene where Chip is forcing to break Steven's door was horrifying yet funny. One of the craziest scenes is when Chip and Steven are talking in jail and the scene where they are playing porno password with Steven's family. The part where Chip whispered "nipples" is totally hilarious and I literally shed some tears because of laughing so hard. I doubt that the lack of acclaim for this film is not because of the story but because Jim Carrey is in it (famous for his infamous humor) but then again, the film is smartly written. Given the fact that Chip is a TV-addict, the references in different TV shows and movies (the parody of the Silence of the Lambs in the Medieval Times is totally hilarious!) were well thought off. If you don't like the film the first time you watched (especially way back that year) is pretty normal but it give it a shot now. I thought the movie was just a normal one back then but after the 2nd and 3rd watching (recently), I now truly grasp the underlying jokes and fanatical gags of this film!

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Predrag

"The Cable Guy," as most know by now, was a major departure for Jim Carrey. With Carrey playing a cable installer fixated on an unsuspecting customer, "The Cable Guy" is easily his darkest movie. The idea of an obsessive cable guy is quite humorous, but this is taken to the extreme to reveal a very disturbing character in the Cable Guy. The Cable Guy is one of these films that is funny in places and in other places generates a sort of nervous laughter, giving the comedy meaning rather than just comedy for the sake of comedy.For comedy to work, it must be taken seriously; real laughs come from playing it straight, and Stiller is a master of this technique. He is to be commended here for extracting a tempered performance from Carrey by reining in his natural tendency toward over exuberance (which has worked for him in other projects, but would have been detrimental here). There are some hilarious moments in this film: Chip throwing a Karaoke party for Steven; a scene that takes place at a Medieval Times restaurant (with a terrific cameo by Janeane Garofalo as their waitress); and a bit with ongoing news coverage of a murder trial in which Stiller plays twin brothers Stan and Sam Sweet. But there are just as many uncomfortable moments, which tend to leave the viewer somewhat uneasy, such as the scene in which Chip dupes Steven's family into playing "Porno Password." We feel Steven's discomfort as well as his frustration with his own inability to control what ultimately becomes an ugly situation. Or when Chip confronts Robin's date (Owen Wilson) in the restroom of a restaurant.The Cable Guy has a stellar enough lead performance and enough good points to be worth the watch. In fact, it's much easier to appreciate it now with a decade's hindsight, now that we've seen a lot more range from Jim Carrey. The film certainly has its moments of brilliance; the Sam Sweet side-plot (with a good and minor cameo from director Ben Stiller) and its conclusion is a wonderful touch, that compliments the ending and its point, and Jim Carrey's karaoke scene - beyond the obvious chuckles you may get from his lisping and catatonic singing - is also a disturbing one, and one shouldn't overlook the choice of a song (Jefferson Airplane's 'Somebody To Love'). The Cable Guy is not as good as it might have been but it's a daring creation, certainly the most daring one for Stiller as a director.Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

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