Ben Stiller directed this 1996 dark comedy starring Jim Carrey as cable installer Chip Douglas, who returns the awkward gestures of friendship from hapless everyman customer Steven Kovacs (Matthew Broderick)—with obsessive attachment and maniacal manipulations. Stiller's second effort behind the camera—taking a satirical look at stalking, media obsession, and identity issues—was an early film for rising phenomenon Carrey, whose previous hits were built on crazed energy and extreme physical humor. The Cable Guy, on the other hand, is more in line with Carrey's daring efforts on the skit comedy series In Living Color and the cerebral humor of the short-lived Ben Stiller Show, resulting here in a darker work than the studio expected. While profitable, the film was hardly a hit, and both Carrey and Stiller soon retreated to less adventurous territory. Although not exactly an overlooked masterpiece, 15 years later The Cable Guy seems sharper and more interesting than other comedies of the era, benefiting from Carrey's less wacky performance and a solid supporting cast that includes up-and-comers Leslie Mann, Jack Black, Janeane Garofalo, Andy Dick, David Cross, and Owen Wilson. Bowing on Blu-ray, extras include a new audio commentary (with Stiller, Carrey, and producer Judd Apatow), deleted and extended scenes, a gag reel, rehearsal footage, a music video, Mann's audition tape, a camera test with Carrey, and two promo featurettes. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)
The Cable Guy
Sony, 96 min., PG-13, Blu-ray: $24.95 Volume 26, Issue 3
The Cable Guy
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