There’s no such thing as free cable.|Jun. 10, 1996|USA|96 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Comedy;Drama;Thriller
Description: “The Cable Guy” (1996) is a dark comedy film that follows the story of Steven Kovacs, an architect who moves into a new apartment after a failed marriage proposal to his girlfriend, Robin Harris. Seeking advice from his friend Rick, Steven bribes a cable installer named Ernie “Chip” Douglas to get free movie channels. Chip, however, quickly becomes overly attached to Steven, labeling him as one of his “preferred customers” and insisting on spending time together.
Chip takes Steven to the city’s central satellite dish, where he reveals that he was raised by television due to his single mother’s frequent absences. As their relationship progresses, Chip’s behavior becomes increasingly intrusive—he crashes Steven’s basketball game, leaves incessant messages on his answering machine, and even gifts him an expensive home theater system after a mock medieval battle at Medieval Times.
Steven tries to distance himself after learning Chip hired a prostitute for him during a party. Chip, desperate to make amends, tracks down Robin and violently assaults her new boyfriend, convincing her to reconcile with Steven. When Steven discovers Chip’s manipulative actions, he cuts ties with him, leading Chip to retaliate. Chip orchestrates Steven’s arrest for stolen property and humiliates him during a family dinner. He also gets Steven fired by leaking a private, insulting conversation about his boss to the company’s computers.
The film explores themes of obsession, loneliness, and the dark side of human connection. “The Cable Guy” offers a unique blend of humor and psychological tension, making it a memorable entry in the comedy genre.
Cast director: Ben Stiller
Cast actor: Jim Carrey, Matthew Broderick, Leslie Mann, Jack Black, George Segal, Diane Baker, Ben Stiller, Eric Roberts, Janeane Garofalo, Andy Dick
Original name: The Cable Guy