The Cable Guy (1996)
Last Watch Date - December 13, 2024
Total Times Watched - SO MANY TIMES
Comments
What do you do when you have a few hours to burn while waiting for your train? You watch The Cable Guy on Tubi, THAT'S WHAT. Or at least that's what I did.
I don't really know how this movie got into such heavy rotation in my house in high school, but it sure did. I think the first time I saw it was in 1997 when we moved to Georgia, which is not really relevant to this review, but I watched it so many times between then and, say 2000? that I still knew almost all of the dialogue after not watching it SINCE then. That's right, I hadn't seen this in over 20 years and still remembered literally everything about it.
Jim Carrey plays one of his characters who is like a creepy stalker that desperately wants friends. Matthew Broderick is the wimpy guy who can't say "bye" and keeps finding himself involved with the cable guy. Leslie Mann's character is AWFUL in this movie. She breaks up with him because he asks her to marry him, kicks him out of the house, then immediately goes on a date with Luke Wilson!? By the way, his character is ALSO AWFUL. Jack Black plays Matthew Broderick's old buddy who is finding himself on the outside of this new life that MB has found with the cable guy. From there, it's a bunch of weirdos who pop in and out (and cameos galore).
What makes this movie so memorable for me (aside from repetition) is just how weird it is. It's kind of a thriller, but moreso a comedy. Jim Carrey plays a good creep who seems to mean well but the way he goes about things is pretty disturbing. When I was younger, I only thought of him as a lovable goofball. But now that I'm older and have met guys who are very similar to him in this regard? He makes me feel uncomfortable. In this context, it's a good uncomfortable. I rooted against him the whole movie this time. Funny how time changes things.
I haven't really heard much about this, so I am assuming it's a bit of a buried treasure from that era. I don't think anyone watched this and thought "That's gonna be a GOOD ONE!" at the time, but it really is. It should get more credit for how bizarre and funny it is.
Recommended?
Yes. It's going to make you laugh, but it'll probably also make your skin crawl at times.
