The Cable
Guy tunes into the downbeat part of Steven Kovacs’s (Matthew
Broderick) life, moving into a new apartment after his marriage proposal to
Robin (Leslie Mann) fell flat. At the suggestion of his friend Rick (Jack
Black), Steven asks the eccentric cable guy Chip (Jim Carrey) if he could
install the movie channels for free. Chip gladly does so and manages to persuade
Steven to hang out with him the next day. In return for his friendship, Chip
offers advice to Steven on how to fix his relationship and gives him presents.
However, when Steven wants to take a step back and spend more time with Robin
and his friends, Chip starts to become resentful and actively starts to
sabotage Steven’s life.
The Cable
Guy is extremely mean-spirited and nowhere is this more apparent
than in Jim Carrey’s character Chip. Screenwriter Lou Holtz, Jr. goes to every
length to make Chip as unlikeable as possible, from constantly knocking on
Steven’s door or ringing his phone to attending the Kovacs family gathering
unwanted by Steven. In what seems to be a bid to invoke uneasiness in the
audience, Chip has effeminate mannerisms, attacks a man with tweezers and appears
to have a crush on Steven. Chip is sexually lewd, hires female prostitutes and
is also given a lisp – it is ableist and
homophobic! Holtz, Jr and Carrey seem to be throwing everything but the kitchen
sinks into making Chip unlikeable. And they succeed but not without revealing
something of themselves that isn’t too pleasant. By the time they try to make
Chip sympathetic, you have lost all good-will towards him and all of mankind. Our
straight man Steven is not likeable in any case; you have to question why
Steven would allow Chip to hang around with him for so long. For the amazing
relationship advice? Apparently every woman loves Sleepless in Seattle? Maybe the stimulating company Chip provides?
Or the free goodies Chip gives to Steven? Robin only serves to be easily duped
into getting back with Steven and into letting Chip tie her up as bait for
Steven.
Director Ben Stiller also appears in The Cable Guy as Sam Sweet, a former child star on a televised trial
for killing his twin brother, a minor sub-plot which leads to nowhere, except
the message that maybe people should switch off their televisions and read
more. There is only one scene, a nightmare sequence, which was interesting from
a stylistic point of view. Otherwise, the cinematography and direction doesn’t elevate
the story in any way. Jim Carrey is left to carry the brunt of the film’s
comedic scenes, using every facial expression and physical tics he has in his
arsenal. But it barely elicits a laugh from this viewer, although admittedly Jim
Carrey is a hit-or-miss performer for me. The
Cable Guy is peppered with satirical TV adverts and pop culture reference,
but again they often miss the mark.
Matthew Broderick doesn’t exhibit much range in The Cable Guy, he seems to be stuck
between three gears of acting: bewilderment, concerned and outraged. Leslie
Mann is barely present, as though she wants to fade into the background as to
not be noticed, which considering what she has to go on, you can’t blame her. Owen
Wilson has a brief role as an obnoxious date of Robin’s, which is nicely played
out until he has to enter the bathroom. Jack Black as Rick is relegated to
providing exposition and occasionally clashing with Chip.
The Cable
Guy might be a fun watch for Jim Carrey fans, however the film
makes the fatal error of mistaking being mean for being darkly humorous.
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