Review of The Cable Guy (1996) by David A — 18 Apr 2010

(from The Watermark 06/22/96).

In this mechanized annoyance-fest, Broderick is a recently un-engaged bachelor who has just moved into his own apartment. When the cable man (Carrey) arrives to hook up his TV service, Broderick unknowingly makes a new best friend - from hell. Carrey goes overboard to make Broderick like him, and becomes a total pain. Broderick's boyish charm and dead-as-wood acting ability are the perfect compliments to Carrey's energy and flamboyance. But like a two-hour In Living Color sketch, the film bases its comedy on the talents of its lead actor, and throws story to the wind. How do you get Jim Carrey to do a funny jousting bit? Have him take Broderick to Medieval Times. How do you let him do an over-the-top karaoke performance? Have him throw a party in Broderick's apartment. The film eventually tries to humanize this cartoonish bad guy, and it all seems pretty silly, even for a comedy. Because there isn't much that's inherently funny in the script, only Carrey could carry a film like this. Queer Quotient: Homosexual overtones are very strong. Just why is this cable guy so obsessed with another man? Heterosexuality is inferred, but the film still leaves you wondering. Gay-friendly director Ben Stiller does a nice job hinting that Carrey could be an obsessed queen: he always seems to stand just a hair too close to Broderick when they're face to face.