The Cable Guy Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
"I can be your best friend, or your worst enemy..."
There's No Such Thing as Free Cable
Once you're hooked... you're his.
For Steven Kovacs, the price of cable is about to go up.
Steven Kovak has been kicked out of his apartment by his girlfriend. Steven has a new apartment, and decides to slip the cable guy (Chip) $50 for free cable. Steven then fakes an interest in Chip's line of work. However Chip takes this to heart trying to become Steven's best bud. When Steven no longer wants to be Chips friend the man who can do it all goes on an all out assault to ruin Steven's life. In the backdrop is the delicate sub-plot of the trial of a former kid star for murdering his brother.
| Jim Carrey | The Cable Guy |
| Matthew Broderick | Steven M. Kovacs |
| Leslie Mann | Robin Harris |
| Jack Black | Rick |
| George Segal | Steven's Father |
| Diane Baker | Steven's Mother |
| Ben Stiller | Sam Sweet/Stan Sweet |
| Eric Roberts | Eric Roberts |
| Janeane Garofalo | Medieval Times Waitress |
| Andy Dick | Medieval Times Host |
| Harry O'Reilly | Steven's Boss |
| David Cross | Sales Manager |
| Amy Stiller | Steven's Secretary |
| Owen Wilson | Robin's Date |
| Keith Gibbs | Basketball Player |
| Ben Stiller |
5.60 out of 10 (26089 votes)
Visitor Reviews
It Just Was'nt Dark Enough
posted on 30 Aug 2009For a long time I have noticed that the major Hollywood studios have no idea how to make a good dark comedy and this film is a perfect example of that.The film teeters unevenly between the usual silliness of Carrey's performance and near dark comic moments which I found unsatifying.And the "happy" ending was a real cop-out(typical Hollywood mentality at work once again).Lovers of this film who accuse those of us who did'nt of being disappointed because it was not another "Ace Ventura" or "Dumb and Dumber" seem to miss the point.The point is that when you make a dark comedy you should go all the way with the dark humor and not hold back for the sake of a "happy" ending or trying to please everyone.
Best Movie Ever
posted on 13 Jul 2009People who don't like this movie are stupid and must beeliminated. If only Jim Carrey had been given the Oscar hedeserved for his amazing performance then there wouldn't havebeen of millions of dollars wasted on all those poor attempts likethe Majestic or Man on the Moon and fewer children would have todie from watching them. Also, I have a big poster of the Cable Guyand I put RoboCop's head on him and it looks awesome!!!
Great Dark Comedy...Extremely Underrated
posted on 13 Jul 2009I don't understand why most people hate this film, maybe because it's too dark. I think that Ben Stiller did an incredible job with this film and Jim Carrey had a great performance as Chip Douglas, perhaps the most difficult and definately the most interesting character he's ever played. You have to understand that the concept of a film about a guy who was basically being raised by TV is going to be very off-normal. I think people were expecting a typical Ace Ventura type Carrey film when they came to see this, which is why everyone hated it...if anyone reading this has only seen it once, I strongly recommend you give it another chance.
Erm...
posted on 25 Jun 2009This is too bad to be true.I rented this film about a year and a half ago, and I haven't seen a film nearly as bad since.The storyline is an utter mess - you are taken from location to location, but you never know quite why, because none of the events in these places actually do anything to advance the plot.As well as this, the characters are so instantly unlikable you actually want to kill them. I mean REALLY kill them.But the worst thing is the fact that this is supposed to be a 'comedy' - the jokes are never witty, instead they're just stupid. None of Carey's crazy remarks seem to make you want to laugh, let alone smile, instead you find yourself frowning and saying, 'What was THAT bit all about?'But, if you like that sort of thing...well...fair enough.
what gives?
posted on 23 May 2009admittedly, its not a perfect film. certainly, the ending is a disappointment.but the gems shine: the basketball game, the medieval restaurant death match, the dinner party, chip doing Somebody To Love with a lisp on a karaoke machine... cable guy has some of the funniest, most memorable scenes of any jim carrey film ever. no question.so what gives with the critics? they help propel the eminently forgettable "clerks" to the top of the rankings and nary a kind word for some of carrey's best work? some people have no sense of humour.8/10
Watching Cable Late at Night Beats This.
posted on 29 Apr 2009A man (Matthew Broderick) gets an illegal cable hookup from the titled character (Jim Carrey) and immediately starts to regret the decision. Carrey becomes a psychotic nut-job who obsesses about being Broderick's new best friend while Broderick just cannot shake him. Soon Carrey has turned all of those in Broderick's life (girlfriend Leslie Mann, friend Jack Black and parents Diane Baker/George Segal) against him as they feel that Broderick is beginning to lose it himself. As all this goes on there is constantly a trial on television that everyone is watching (ala O.J.) about a former child star (director Ben Stiller) who murdered his identical twin brother. Sick little comedy that tries to be a thriller, but never does make much sense going that route. Carrey is never scary and this is no exception. Broderick shakes like a little girl and everyone else gets lost in the dumb shuffle. Stiller's shortcomings as a film-maker do nothing to help as it is not even clear that the movie has a director or screenwriter. 2 stars out of 5.
Ben Stiller's "The Cable Guy" is an excellent dark comedy about social alienation.
posted on 29 Apr 2009Sure, it was Jim Carrey's darkest comedic role, it bombed at the box office, and only has a 5.6 rating on IMDb, but I think it's a great dark comedy that depicts social alienation like no other.Steven (Matthew Broderick) has just broken up with his girlfriend. He gets his own apartment, and calls the cable company to get the cable installed. Jim Carrey plays a cable guy, Chip Douglas, a lonely individual who was practically raised by television, a man who just needs a friend. He installs cable in Steven's new apartment, and Steven slips Chip $50 for free HBO, and acts as if he's interested in Chip, so, Chip thinks he's made a new friend. Throughout the film, Chip finds a way to insert himself into Steve's personal life, to the point that he begins to take over it. Steven decides that he doesn't want any contact with Chip, so Chip does whatever he can to wreck Steven's life for good.The acting is solid, Carrey proves that he's not just a one-trick pony with this one. He turns his character from a friendly, socially inept loner, to a stalking predator who will stop at nothing to entertain himself. Ben Stiller shows great potential as a director, he balances the dark "thriller" elements with the comedy, and delivers on both fronts. The film itself is hilarious and touching at the same time, even thought provoking.7/10
Totally unappreciated!!! No spoilers!!!
posted on 11 Apr 2009The Cable Guy is one of Jim Carrey's movies that has been unfairly maligned. I find it to be a darkly funny film. Jim Carrey goes for broke in role that would be impossible for anyone else to play. He plays a lonely and disturbed cable guy that tries to befriend Mathew Broderick. The film is dark, but not as dark as it could be, Jim's character has been brought up by television, He is obssessed with old TV show plotlines. Jim Carrey's performance is great, he makes his character funny, but also dangerous, but not totally unsympathetic. He hits the right tone, always with tongue firmly in cheek. Critics and audiences stayed away, but I prefer this to some of Carrey's weaker films, namely Ace Ventura and the Mask.Grade: B
Highly Recommend to anyone 17+
posted on 11 Apr 2009From my point of view i believe that so many people disliked the cable guy at first because they were watching it expecting to see an ace ventura type comedy. obviously this movie doesn't quite meet those expectations and the humor is directed towards a more mature audience than the Ace Ventura movies. but that is just how i see it, my theory may not be true for everyone that disliked this movie. i do know that this movie deserves more credit than it's 5.5 rating.
Jim Carrey's only bomb was actually a great movie that deserved a second look.
posted on 30 Mar 2009I think the first time anybody sees The Cable Guy, they automatically feel letdown. That's because they expect Jim Carrey to be YELLING and TWISTING and FLAILING HIS ARMS AROUND. But his performance in The Cable Guy is actually an excellent one, maybe even better than his dramatic turn in the critically-praised The Truman Show. Here, he plays Chip Douglas, the lonely cable installer who stalks Matthew Broderick. And he's not his usual, Somebody-Stop-Me whirlwind of comedy. He's dark, manipulating, and very, very intense. He's dead-on as the tag-along friend, because everybody knows somebody like The Cable Guy. And the more you watch this movie, the more brilliant his performance seems. Not too long ago, Premiere published an article called Ten Great Movies that Didn't Deserve to Bomb. I was happy to see The Cable Guy at the top of the list, because Ben Stiller's comedy is actually a classic- if you see it more than once.
The highlight of Carrey's career, never to be topped!
posted on 18 Mar 2009Odd thing perceptions! The general concensus is that this film was not popular - critically or at the box office. Many contributors here make mention of the film's perceived "unpopularity" but read the majority and it is obvious that this is NOT the case. So many evidently hold the film dear to their emotions. And why not? it is by SO FAR, Carrey's greatest performance and indeed one of the most satisfying films ever made. I have seen way more movies than most of you for four reasons.(1) I am older than 95% of you. (2) I have watched films regularly since I was 4. (3) I was a film critic for many years and (4) We have our own library of over 4000 films at home which we watch in five yearly rotations.So when I tell you this is one of the best films ever made - believe me! (even if you don't happen to like it) THE CABLE GUY, though screamingly funny in places was never a comedy, it is one of the saddest films I have ever seen and an absolute tour-de-force from Jim Carrey. His is a study in psychotic loneliness..is he not just a hop, skip and a screwdriver away from Norman Bates? The lisp was genius, so few could have carried that off in such brilliant fashion. At times, when Anthony Perkins takes over, Carrey's not there any more. Forget MAN IN THE MOON, THE TRUMAN SHOW, they can't hold a candle to this performance.As cable guy Chip Douglas, Carrey simply "smothers" Broderick's character who is just about acted off the screen for the film's entire running time. Equally good acting perhaps, but Broderick appears to be totally bemused the entire time he is on screen with Carrey, seemingly unable to come to grips with either Chip Douglas or his co-star!So many little vignettes stay with you long after the film has concluded. The party scene where Carrey cuts loose, belting out "Do you need somebody to love." How many understood the significance of that particular song? The incredible take on SILENCE OF THE LAMBS during the cack-fest that was "Medieval Times!" The classic basketball sequence where Carrey limbers up! The porno-password game which must rank as one of the most difficult to watch segments ever thrown up in a movie and then the absolutely unforgettable climax atop the communications tower. No speech in the history of cinema has moved me as much as Chip's final recognition of his predicament."You were NEVER there for me, were you mother?You expected Mike and Carol Brady to raise me! I'm the b**tard son of Clare Huxtable I'm the long lost Cunningham!I learned the facts of life from watching THE FACTS OF LIFE...Oh God!"Tears were streaming down my face the day I first saw this I'm not ashamed to admit and take it from me...I'm no wuss!Either this flick strikes a chord with you or it doesn't (or perhaps CANNOT) I f you remain undecided, watch it again and think about what you're seeing....because you'll never see it again!
Great fun
posted on 28 Feb 2009Dark comedy hasn't been this sweet since Very Bad Things and American Beauty. True, Jim Carrey may not be fit for the dramedy genre, but some might also say he wasn't fit for the drama genre. But he does fit in almost everything, so he fit here. Carrey plays a Cable guy (guess his real name and win a prize) who starts to try and make a friendship with one of his customers (Matthew Broderick), but it flails. So dark (yet very funny) comedy ensues. Great fun, especially considering this is Ben Stiller's 2nd directorial project (his first was Reality Bites). One of the best film of 1996. A+
He Is The TV !
posted on 28 Feb 2009Yes, simply and openly (Jim Carrey) in this movie is the television with all its negative images ! Didn't he look like a noisy music channel sometimes ?, a very stupid quiz show for other times, and a long silly soap opera all the times ?!I think the final plot or statement which made (Carrey) as the avenger who takes revenge on that "Homey electronic substitute for parents" is such a solution for making a catchy climax only, because (Carrey) here personifies the substitute itself ! However with a much powerful disturbance, and the message is so clear : turn it off, or at least don't take it as a friend.(Ben Stiller) said at (Inside The Actor Studio) that "Jim Carrey was coming to the set everyday with 20 ideas to perform one scene" and he loved it. But for sometimes you'd feel that (Stiller), as a director, let (Carrey) do whatever he wants maybe as his creative college, or maybe as the bankable star of the time who took 20 million dollars for his role which was historically peerless at the time and too overrated from my point of view as well, putting in mind many ultra-silly moments and the fact that the movie's outcome at the box office wasn't quite good. I only loved that scene at the end when (George Segal) loses the TV's transmission then begins to open a book with exploratory look on his face. It's very forthright I know (Books instead of trash TV) but nice and well-meaning.It's a "devil-in-our-home" kind of movie. Yet, not as a Horror spoof, inasmuch as a Horror only ! So what a noisy, brusque and too silly Horror that is !
Funniest movie of 1996!
posted on 07 Feb 2009Without a doubt, hands down, the best and funniest movie of 1996. Jim Carrey and Matthew Broderick make a hilarious comic duo. Jim Carrey is as funny as he ever was in his role as a lonely and troubled, but psychotic t.v. repair man. Matthew Broderick is funny too in his role as a clueless executive who also is the latest victim of The Cable Guy. My favorite scenes include the medieval fight, the basketball game, and the karoke dance party. This movie should be a classic. 10/10
Great film with a bad rep.
posted on 04 Feb 2009The first time I watched the film I didn't get it. But the second time I was hooked. There are some truly great scenes in it that you do not want to miss. Carrey as a brave knight, attacking poor Broderick. Or when Carrey sings karaoke. And sweet scenes about manly friendship. The film contains both morale issues and comic relief. And also makes a comment on the "life in front of the TV"-syndrome. It's too bad the film has got a bad reputation...it's a great film that works on many levels.
He who hesitates...
posted on 21 Dec 2008I tuned into the Cable Guy late one night on Channel Four and thought it would be pretty poor as it has been panned so much. I now have no idea why - I think Carrey is at his best in this film. Just watch the basketball, duelling and karaoke scenes and see for yourself.When reviewing this film why do people feel uncomfortable with not being able to pigeon-hole Chip into being a good or bad guy. Surely that is what makes his character so interesting and funny. In some ways you wish you knew someone like Chip, but in others you know it would be a complete nightmare.Brilliantly funny film, Carrey and Broderick are superb. I'm off to watch it now!
Jim Carrey....Not so lovable!
posted on 18 Dec 2008Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!........CABLE GUYYY!!!!..Jim Carrey brings this film to life like no other actor could do. From the moment Chip Douglas (Carrey) appears you are in for an uncomfortable gem of a film. It's been said before that this is NOT the usual Carrey movie, his usual comical, lovable characters are blown away by this lonely, creepy and unlikable psychopath. You will feel uneasy throughout the film, always on edge but totally entertained. Carrey gives his all to bring about a quite believable madman, hell-bent on taking over someone's life. The film has some hilarious moments and some quite surreal scenes which add to it's 'feel' which will be not to everyone's taste. The karaoke party is like a bad trip! A clever film which will one day become a classic
Atypical Jim Carrey, but it's better!
posted on 12 Dec 2008I simply can't understand why so many people didn't like this movie. I thought it was hilarious! The plot was quite good, the characters fit the story perfectly, the actors fit their respective characters perfectly, and Jim Carrey assembled the movie into a clever and witty comedy...with appropriate touches of slapstick acting that only Jim Carrey is capable of.
Take, for example, the scene where Chip Douglas (the cable guy) is looking for the 'sweet spot' on Steve's wall. Or the Midieval Times battle scene (in my opinion, one of the funniest parts of the movie).The story is a good one as well; with each little aspect, from the prostitute to the stolen equipment, coming together in Chip Douglas' plan to control Steve and ensure that he has a friend. The acting is fantastic, the characteris are fantastic, and the story is just hilarious. Great movie!
My Favorite 90's movie!
posted on 12 Dec 2008Well in my opinion one of my favorite movies ever. The humor is 90's and a lot of people don't like that. I grew up with this movie, and I loved it ever since. Jim Carey is my favorite actor, and to see him so dark and creepy just makes me like him even more. His performance was outstanding. I do recommend this to anyone who loves Jim Carey, 90's, and great twist. This movie also includes an outstanding cast that we still see today such as Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller. This movie is just too awesome, I don't know why the critics didn't like it, but this movie just was not marketed well like it should have. Everyone in the movie was outstanding and I just wish this movie got more because it was very good and 90's. Just watch the movie, you might not like the humor but you will love the story and movie!
People are wrong
posted on 30 Aug 2009People are wrong. They say that THE CABLE GUY is Jim Carrey's worst film. When really it is very well done and brilliantly dark in its own way. I realized people were upset because they were hoping for a Jim Carrey like in ACE VENTURA. They didnt want this psychotic stalker Carrey. I think Carrey's worst was possibly ACE VENTURA 2: WHEN NATURE CALLS. Honestly, and I quite a movie critic I think this is one of his best movies and PERFORMANCES. It was well made and I thought was quite original. Not exactly movie of the year, but it seemed very true to people who get lonely.
Matthew Broderick stars along side of Carrey as Steven Kovacks, a man who has recently been having trouble with his girlfriend whom he asks to marry, and she asks him to move out. The Cable Guy (Carrey) comes in to install cable and comes into Steven's life. Desperate for a friend he will do anything and everything for him...and eventually it gets a little psychotic and not psychotically funny. Very original and not typical Jim Carrey, in the line that the Cable Guy delivers himself "I can be your best friend or your worst enemy." I loved it. Directed by Ben Stiller of ZOOLANDER.