THE CABLE GUY
1996 -- PG-13 -- 94 minutes
Directed by Ben Stiller. Written by Lou Holtz, Jr.
Jim Carrey: "Chip Douglas"
Matthew Broderick:
Steven
Kovacs
Leslie Mann: Robin Harris
Jack Black: Rick
George Segal: Steven's Father
Diane Baker: Steven's Mother
Ben Stiller: Sam and Stan Sweet
Eric Roberts: Himself
Janeane: Medieval Times Waitress,
Melinda
Andy Dick: Medieval Host
Owen Wilson: Robins Date
Also starring:
Charles Napier * Tommy Hinkley * Kathy Griffin * Joel Murray * Bob Odenkirk *
Conrad Janis
"Dude, gotta lot of tables"
PLOT SYNOPSIS:
Steven Kovacs, just spit from his girlfriend, finds himself the center of attention from his cable TV installer, Chip Doulgas. At first Steven feels sympathy for the lonely, unusual Chip, but the cable guy's overbearing attempts at friendship becomes too much to take. Attempting to distance himself from Chip, Steven only makes matters worse, and his life takes a downward spin, thanks to the cable guy.
JANEANES CHARACTER:
Okay. So, it's a cameo. Doesn't mean it's not a great role. She's Melinda, the "serving wench" at the surreal Medieval Times restaurant. Wearing an appropriate outfit, Janeane's both funny and cute. The character doesn't appear to be enjoying her career choice, and she plays it well. Her final line, directed at Matthew Broderick, is one of the funniest things in the movie.
MY REVIEW:**1/2
Stiller's much talked about movie is not the disaster everyone seems to think it was. Many of the critics proclaimed it Carrey's best (and certainly most intelligent) film up until The Truman Show came along. But in my opinion, it's a frustrating mixture of clever ideas and visual gags, and clumsy, predictable comedy. The basic storyline...hero stalked by deranged weirdo...is mostly unimaginative and obvious, the sort of thing we've seen in scores of thrillers. Carrey appears in all areas of Chip's life, ruins his personal life, gets him fired, put in prison, etc. Seen it before...frequently.
Far more interesting is the subplot, a vicious shot at television and how much it dominates our lives. There's plenty of smart injokes, and a handful of cameos that make the audience sit up and pay attention. An excellent running gag is the televised trial of a former child actor (director Stiller himself) who brutually murders his twin brother. The subplot, and the reasons for Chip's mental state, are meant as a searing indictment of the medium of television. Stiller and writer Lou Holtz, Jr., gets their points across clearly, but its a shame that the rest of the film isn't nearly as successful. An ambitious, interesting but ultimately flawed movie.
CHECK OUT JANEANE'S CABLE GUY
SCENE IN AVI.
(Just right click and save the clip to your pc)
VIDCAPS:
