The Cable Guy (1996)

Director:

Ben Stiller

Writer (WGA):

Lou Holtz Jr. (written by)

Release Date:

14 June 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Thriller

Tagline:

Once you let him into your house, you'll never get him out of your life!

Plot:

A lonely and disturbed cable guy raised on television just wants a new friend, but his target, a designer, rejects him, with bad consequences.

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Cable Guy | Television | Head In Toilet | Psychopath

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jim Carrey	...	The Cable Guy
Matthew Broderick	...	Steven M. Kovacs
Leslie Mann	...	Robin Harris
Jack Black	...	Rick
George Segal	...	Steven's Father
Diane Baker	...	Steven's Mother
Ben Stiller	...	Sam Sweet / Stan Sweet
Eric Roberts	...	Eric Roberts
Janeane Garofalo	...	Medieval Times Waitress
Andy Dick	...	Medieval Times Host
Harry O'Reilly	...	Steven's Boss
David Cross	...	Sales Manager
Amy Stiller	...	Steven's Secretary
Owen Wilson	...	Robin's Date
Keith Gibbs	...	Basketball Player

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for dark thematic elements and crude humor.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

UK:12 (cut) | Iceland:12 | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Denmark:12 | Finland:K-12/9 | Germany:12 | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #34332)

Filming Locations:

Carson, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

At an early stage of the project, some media announced that the cable guy would be in fact harassing a young woman instead of a man, implying much sexual motivations from the title character.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The satellite dish Chip falls into is pointing straight up. Satellite dishes track satellites in geosynchronous orbit, which must orbit at the equator. For the satellite dish to be pointing straight up, it must be on the equator.

Quotes:

The Cable Guy: Pretty smooth work! I set 'em up, you knock 'em down.
Steven Kovacs: What?
The Cable Guy: Robin. I got her back for you. I juiced her up!
Steven Kovacs: How do you know we're back together?
The Cable Guy: Free cable is the ultimate aphrodisiac, Steven.
Steven Kovacs: I don't want you messing with my life!
The Cable Guy: I know! I felt bad about the other night. I wanted to make it up to you.
[pause]
The Cable Guy: So what are you doing? Wanna catch a flick?
Steven Kovacs: Look, I appreciate you helping me out with Robin. But you have to understand. I'm going to have to work *extra* hard to not screw this relationship up again. You're a very nice guy, but I just don't have any room in my life for a new friend. Okay?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner? (#11.3)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Blind

Incredibly under-rated

The most under-rated movie ever. This is probably the greatest dark comedy in existence. Unfortunately it did badly at the box office as it attracted Jim Carrey's fans he obtained doing films previous to this such as "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" and "The Mask". These fans wanted another light-hearted, no-brainer comedy and so they weren't happy with this dark, dark comedy which is actually quite smart. Then critics gave very mixed reviews. Many "got" the film and hailed it for the greatness it deserves. Many didn't get it as they again were expecting a comedy and got a film which is more like a dark thriller with comedic bits. Ben Stiller shows fantastic promise as a director, especially how he uses colour to show the movie's dark undertones and as always Jim Carrey is fantastic. Owen Wilson, Jack Black, Matthew Broderick and Ben Stiller also star -although Owen only has a bit-part and Ben only has a cameo... well technically two cameos. This film rules!