The Cable Guy is a 1996 black comedy film directed by Ben Stiller and starring Jim Carrey and Matthew Broderick. The film also features Leslie Mann and Jack Black. The film was released in North America on Friday, June 14, 1996 by Columbia Pictures.

Plot

A TV-obsessed cable installer, who gives his name as Ernie "Chip" Douglas, installs Steven Kovacs's (Matthew Broderick) cable television service after Steven moves out of the apartment he shared with his girlfriend Robin (Leslie Mann). After he illegally gives Steven free pay channels, Chip believes he and Steven have struck up a friendship. Although Chip behaves in an off-putting manner, Steven comes to like his new pal. Chip shows his affection in odd ways, such as arranging a duel between the two, giving his new pal a (stolen) massive entertainment system, and paying a gorgeous prostitute to have sex with Steven. But not long passes before Chip's bizarre behavior exhausts Steven's patience, leading him to forcefully break off their friendship. Chip snaps, and resorts to stalking Steven and his girlfriend to get the attention he feels he deserves.

The film satirizes America's obsession with television, and other forms of mass media such as the Internet and video games. The Cable Guy seems unable to separate fact from fiction, as television was his de facto parent. Director Ben Stiller has a minor role in the film as an accused murderer and former child star whose criminal case is constantly being talked about on every television station, with the signal being disrupted right before the verdict is announced.

Cast

• Jim Carrey as Ernie "Chip" Douglas (The Cable Guy)
• Matthew Broderick as Steven M. Kovacs
• Leslie Mann as Robin Harris
• Jack Black as Rick
• George Segal as Mr. Kovacs
• Diane Baker as Mrs. Kovacs
• Ben Stiller as Sam Sweet / Stan Sweet
• Eric Roberts as Himself
• Janeane Garofalo as Medieval Times Waitress
• Andy Dick as Medieval Times Host
• David Cross as Sales Manager
• Amy Stiller as Steven's Secretary
• Owen Wilson as Robin's Date
• Kathy Griffin as Mrs. Douglas
• Bob Odenkirk as Steven's brother
• Kyle Gass as Couch Potato
• Jeremy Applegate as Serf #4
• Bill Clinton (uncredited) as Himself (archive footage)
• Alex D. Linz (uncredited)

Reactions

Critical reception

The Cable Guy is regarded as having a darker tone than most of Carrey's previous work, because he plays the antagonist, a stalker. Audiences had mixed reactions to this change of character for Carrey and film critics gave mixed reviews. The movie scored 50% on Rotten Tomatoes,^[1] giving it a rotten score.

Box office

The film grossed $19,806,226 on its opening weekend. It grossed a total $60,240,295 in the domestic market, and $42,585,501 outside the U.S, making a total of $102,825,796 worldwide gross. Despite the perception that the movie was a flop, it actually made a profit, grossing just over $100 million, with a budget of $47 million.^[2]

Awards & Nominations

1997 MTV Movie Awards

• Best Comic Performance - Jim Carrey (won)
• Best Villain - Jim Carrey (won)

Edits (United Kingdom)

In the UK, four seconds from the final fight between Chip and Steven is edited out, to remove shots of Chip headbutting Steven. A further edit is made to remove a double earclap.

Soundtrack

The Cable Guy: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released May 21, 1996 by Sony.^[3] It consists largely of alternative rock and post-grunge bands and includes the first solo recording by Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains fame. The soundtrack also includes a song from $10,000 Gold Chain, a side project of Pearl Jam lead guitarist Mike McCready. However, it does not include White Zombie's "More Human Than Human," which is featured in the film.

Track listing

1. I'll Juice You Up - Jim Carrey
2. Leave Me Alone - Jerry Cantrell
3. Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand - Primitive Radio Gods
4. Blind - Silverchair
5. Oh! Sweet Nuthin' - $10,000 Gold Chain
6. End of the World is Coming - David Hilder
7. Satellite of Love - Porno For Pyros
8. Get Outta My Head - Cracker
9. Somebody to Love - Jim Carrey
10. The Last Assassin - Cypress Hill
11. This is - Ruby
12. Hey Man, Nice Shot - Filter
13. Unattractive - Toadies
14. Download - Expanding Man
15. This Concludes Our Broadcast Day - John Ottman

In Popular Culture

• On the season 11 episode of The Simpsons, "Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner", Homer goes to a Planet Hollywood-esque restaurant where he sees several props from famous movies, like the mug from Heartbeeps, the cane from Citizen Kane, and, according to Bart, the awful script from this movie (which Homer tears because the movie almost ruined Jim Carrey's career).

• This is arguably the first Frat Pack film, due to the involvement of Ben Stiller, Judd Apatow, Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Leslie Mann and Andy Dick.

See also

• Cable television
• Internet

References

• The ending seems to parody that of the movie Ricochet.

External links

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