Jim Carrey established himself as a funny guy in the early 90s, and the performances he turned in for that decade were consistently lighthearted and comical in films that you could typically take the whole family to without worrying about content. There were of course a few exceptions to this: the Andy Kaufman biopic Man on the Moon, the notably dirtier Me, Myself & Irene, and The Cable Guy. The first two stand out as having adult situations, with Man on the Moon being the third in Jim Carrey’s effort to redefine himself as a well-rounded actor and not just a comedy star. The Cable Guy is an entirely different animal. It has elements of Ace Ventura characterization, but the film’s tone has an eerie and absurd vein and a subdued thriller vibe that audiences just weren’t expecting.
Even though Matthew Broderick plays Steven, the film’s protagonist with a relationship on the rocks, it becomes clear within seconds who you’re supposed to fixate your attention on: Jim Carrey as Chip Douglas, the overly-enthusiastic, impulsive, desperate cable guy raised by television. Chip is the first guest to Steven’s new apartment and after being invited in to install Steven’s cable, he forces his way into the remainder of Steven’s life, quickly becoming a mixed blessing. Even as Chip forces Steven out of his shell and reunites him with his ex-girlfriend (Leslie Mann), he shows up unexpected and throws parties that lead to trouble for Steven. As the relationship wears on, Steven gets burnt out and asks Chip to go away. And that’s when things get weird. Weirder, rather. Chip’s mania goes off the deep-end and Steven has to find a way to talk Chip down from insanity.
When you don’t have the terrifically overt-the-top performance of Jim Carrey to complement the plot as written above, this film isn’t a comedy. This film is something terrifying and would be a horror film plain and simple. Without any warning that this isn’t your typical Jim Carrey film, you might walk away from The Cable Guy disappointed or even turned off to Jim Carrey altogether. However, if you keep in mind that the entire endeavor is meant to be funny but it’s also one of those great satirical commentaries on our cultures valuation of entertainment and the increasingly common inability to maintain a separation between reality and fiction. Various plotpoints hinge on a movie or television show as the catalyst, with Chip representing what happens when someone goes too far.
If you have a taste for dark comedy The Cable Guy is one of the best comedies Jim Carrey has ever given us. It has a few thoughts in its head and still manages to be quite funny. Despite being made 15 years ago, it understood the direction our culture was heading better than many films made since. The seemingly farfetched claims in Chip’s satellite dish monologue have become the reality sitting in the average household’s living room. The Cable Guy was shunned by audiences who went to the theater expecting a lighthearted romp, but for those willing to take a chance on a darker Jim Carrey, this is one of those films that will stick with you.
The hi-def transfer is nice, but doesn’t do much to enhance this understated film. The only moment where the HD shines through is in the final satellite dish scene in the pouring rain, but beyond that, neither sound nor visual prove to be the deciding factor in buying this Blu-ray,
Blu-ray Bonus Features
The single new addition to the extra features is also what makes this disc worth a buy: the audio commentary featuring Jim Carrey, Ben Stiller (who directed it), and Judd Apatow (who gave the script a tune-up at one point). Listening to these three talk about memories from the set and their surprise at how the film was initially received is very funny. They banter back in forth essentially making for a solid reason to rewatch it with the commentary immediately following a viewing of the film with normal audio. Beyond that commentary all the extras are from the DVD release including the gag reel, the HBO “First Look” special, the Comedy Central “Canned Ham” preview, behind the scenes footage, the “Leave Me Alone” music video, and deleted & extended scenes. Of these, perhaps only the gag reel is worthwhile.
"The Cable Guy" is on sale November 30, -0001 and is rated . Directed by Ben Stiller.
