The Cable Guy [DVD] [1996]

This comedy is very dark, and may dissapoint Carrey fans for not being as laugh out loud funny as his other films. I thouroughly enjoyed this film, I am a fan of this kind of comedy and I think both Stiller and Carrey manage to pull it off effectively. The idea of an obssessive cable guy is quite humourous, 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 (should I really be laughing?) laughter, giving the comedy meaning rather than just comedy for the sake of comedy. It makes the audience think. The roles are well acted and each scene is a joy to watch, it is exciting and refreshing to see Carrey in this role, he is still Carrey but less rubber faced and more creepy than usual. I don't know if I would say this is his best film but it is worth a watch maybe two. I took a gamble buying it after hearing it is seen by some as Carrey's best film. Also it was only £[...] from Woolworths.

Steven Kovak, who has just split up with his girlfriend, decides to have cable TV installed in his apartment. The Cable Guy, known as 'Chip', arrives to install it, and then attempts to befriend Steven. However, as Steven very quickly discovers, Chip is dangerously unstable and verging on the dangerous.

All of this is given a comic slant, however. Chip rapidly becomes the thorn in Steven's flesh as he begins cropping up everywhere that Steven goes. His behaviour is erratic, abnormal, socially backward, and sometimes just downright eerie. Jim Carrey was never more superbly cast than he is in this film, and the taken-aback bemusement of Steven is also portrayed well by Matthew Broderick.

There are some truly funny scenes, especially one where Chip gatecrashes a basketball game which Steven is taking part in, to hilarious effect. Later, the two visit a medieval themed restaurant, and more chaos ensues. One of the most memorable scenes unfolds when Chip decides to throw Steven a house party, bringing in a Karaoke machine and various misfits who Chip has installed cable TV for. Oh, and a prostitue, too, who Chip proceeds to fix Steven up with. The scene in which Jim Carrey puts his heart and soul into a rendition of Jefferson Airplane's 'Somebody To Love', is as hilarious a scene as I have witnessed in any comedy, but it's a bizarre scene, and a thoroughly bizarre humour, which a person either finds hilarious or completely unfunny. I personally thought the film was inspired.

Events take a sinister turn after Steven discovers that he has slept with a prostitute, and he tells Chip he doesn't want him as a friend any more. Chip then begins deliberately making a stalker of himself and sets about causing Steven's life to unravel. Carrey's demented harrassment of Steven is eerie yet comical, and when Chip actually turns up at Steven's family home, persuading them he is a friend of Steven's, the results are cringe-inducing, but side-splitting.

This film will either appeal to your sense of humour, or totally conflict with it, but rest assured, if you find it funny, you'll find watching it a thoroughly enjoyable hour or so of your life.

This film is incredible. Carrey's comic genius will provide non-stop laughter. Very original, with an excellent dark atmosphere. The visual humour in this film is unlike any other. The best bits in my view are Medieval Times, the basketball game and Carrey's performance in the restaurant (if you've seen the film you will know what I mean).