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The Cable Guy

The Cable Guy (1996)

tomatometer

20

Average Rating: 4.1/10
Critic Reviews: 15
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 12

No consensus yet.

audience

50

liked it
Average Rating: 2.8/5
User Ratings: 446,071

My Rating

Movie Info

Originally planned as a silly vehicle for Chris Farley, in the hands of director Ben Stiller and star Jim Carrey, The Cable Guy became an opportunity for Carrey to flex some of his darker comedic muscles as stalker Chip Douglas. Matthew Broderick plays Steven, an average Joe who is forlorn over his recent breakup with girlfriend Robin (Leslie Mann). When he moves into a new apartment, Steven comes in contact with Chip, who shows up to hook up the cable. Before he knows it, and whether he likes

PG-13, 1 hr. 36 min.

Comedy

Judd Apatow

Aug 8, 2000

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

The Cable Guy Trailer & Photos

More Trailers and Videos (1)

Cast

Critic Reviews for The Cable Guy

All Critics (57) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (32) | Rotten (26) | DVD (7)

It's a fairly interesting effort -- much more ambitious than most Carrey vehicles.

July 28, 2009 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Aiming, perhaps, for a neat double helix of black humor and prankishness, they've ended up with a pretty ugly granny knot.

July 27, 2009 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | Comment
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

While some of its antic set pieces are genuinely funny, this fuzzy-focus outing is hopelessly disconnected and ultimately unsatisfying.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Leonard Klady
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Much of it plays like a personal boob tube with Carrey trapped inside, determined to act his way out in a freak show of mugging. He's a disturbing mixture of psychopath and lonely soul. Here, as always, a little Carrey goes a long way.

June 18, 2002 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
Peter Stack
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Carrey runs riot, and Stiller won't stop him.

May 12, 2001 Comment
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A misguided attempt to extend [Carrey's] range by having him play someone who is demented and dangerous.

February 14, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | Comment
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

An unsettling oddity and unexpected box office success at the time of its release, The Cable Guy now seems a prophetic dark comedy and a key into the sensibilities of Jim Carrey, Ben Stiller, and Judd Apatow.

April 18, 2011 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Chris Cabin
Slant Magazine

A twisted comedy about TV addiction. Teens OK.

December 18, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Heather Boerner
Common Sense Media

One of the most underrated comedies of all time.

September 8, 2010 Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | Comments (3)
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs

The writer and director can't keep pace with the dark places Carrey takes the script.

November 14, 2009 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The Cable Guy is certainly a cautionary tale, but not about the dangers of TV.

August 20, 2009 Full Review Source: City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul | Comment
Rob Nelson
City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul Source: City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul

In all, about a third of the film (most of it contained in three extended sequences) is audaciously funny and genuinely disturbing. The rest will sorely test the devotion of Carrey's fans.

July 27, 2009 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide's Movie Guide

As a follow up to hits Ace Ventura and The Mask, this black comedy curio bewildered Carrey's fans and failed at the box office. But its nervy sheen and strung-out comedy set pieces work well.

July 27, 2009 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment
Film4 Source: Film4

an underrated flick

May 2, 2008 Comment
Stefan Birgir Stefansson
sbs.is

Consistently funny (in an intensely uncomfortable way).

February 3, 2008 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comment
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

Stiller's film ranks as an honourable failure.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment
Time Out Source: Time Out

A misunderstood and misdirected movie.

June 2, 2006 Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | Comment
JoBlo
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

The film brilliantly constructs awkward situations that neither character can find ways to get out of and deftly plays with the bizarre nature of human relationships. What makes two people click, and what happens when only one clicks?

May 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

A hilarious black comedy that proved too dark and too smart for its star's fan base.

January 23, 2006 Comments (9)
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Cable Guy

View All

The Cable Guy is a decent comedy with lots of flaws. Though it's interesting to see Jim Carrey act in a more darker comedic role, at times the film tries far too hard at delivering something that for most of the time, is unfunny. The film has some good moments, but throughout the entire film, there's always something

February 6, 2012
TheDudeLebowski65
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

Plain and Simple. This film deserves more credit then it gets. It's hilarious and Matthew Broderick and Jim Carrey suprisingly are a good screen couple. It's scary at times and its well crafted.

August 16, 2011
Michael M.
Michael Miller

Super Reviewer

The Cable Guy Quotes

View All

    1. Chip Douglas the Cable Guy: This concludes our broadcast day. Click.
    – Submitted by Nick S (54 days ago)
    1. Chip Douglas the Cable Guy: Sounds like heart break to me
    2. Steven Kovacs: Well I really don't want to discuss it with you. Could you just install my cable please? I'm gonna go get dressed.
    3. Chip Douglas the Cable Guy: Suit yourself. No sweat off my sac. Oh by the way, you might wanna put on a bathing suit 'cause you'll be channel surfing in no time!
    – Submitted by George B (58 days ago)
    1. Chip Douglas the Cable Guy: I can be your best friend or your worst enemy. You seem to prefer the latter.
    – Submitted by Lucas M (5 months ago)
    1. Himself: Promise me you'll never go bungee jumping in Mexico, they just don't have the regulations!
    – Submitted by Charles N (8 months ago)

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