Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Cable Guy’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

Friends are an important part of our lives. Because the good ones, are more or less extended family to us and because of that, we experience some incredible moments with them at our side. We laugh with them, we cry with them, and we lift one another up when there are tragedies and hardships in our lives. Truly, friends are an incredible gift but sadly, some of them don’t always stick around in our lives. Because people grow and people change and when they pull in different directions, we see pals we once valued drift away in either quiet or heartbreaking fashion. Which means that the ones we keep around, are the real deal and truly special in their own right. But what’s truly incredible about friendship in general, is that not everyone in this world, gets to experience its outright wonder.
 
Because unfortunately, some people grow up differently than a lot of us, and their contrasting journey in life takes them down a path where friendship isn’t something that is commonplace for them. And while the details of how and why they’re alone vary more often than not, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have friends but sadly… good and solid friendships tend to elude them. If anything, that should engender a greater discussion on kindness and understanding, and how people shouldn’t shun those who need a little more care and patience when it comes to making friends, but it also takes understanding to get that point. Which is why I was so supremely shocked to see a motion picture try and help us comprehend how and why some people end up in a more isolated place in life, in lighthearted and digestible fashion in, The Cable Guy.
 
Now, for those unfamiliar with this particular film, in it we are introduced to a man named Steven Kovacs and well, ol’ Steven is in a bit of a quagmire at the moment. For the woman he loves said ‘no’ when it comes to his marriage proposal and that devastating answer has prompted him to start over in a new apartment and well, he’s definitely down in the dumps right now. But his buddy knows what should help him heal just a little bit, some mindless entertainment, and he offers him some tips as to how he can get free cable, tips that actually work when the cable guy swings by for setup. But there is a price that comes with this particular deal. For Chip, Steven’s new cable concierge, wants this arrangement to result in the most incredible friendship in the history of friendships, whether Steven likes it or not. 

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​So, it’s really just best to declare this motion picture as downright brilliant, simply because it accomplishes so much over its hour and a half runtime. For it is indeed a quality black comedy, one rife with some seriously funny moments. I mean come on, Jim Carrey and Matthew Broderick having their own ‘Amok Time’ moment in the middle of Medieval Times? That’s fantastic and its hilarious and the wonder of this film doesn’t end there. Because it really is a whip smart satire on modern American and how we consume entertainment and how it can be quite the unhealthy obsession for us from time to time, especially when we live vicariously through it, a point hammered home by the all-too-familiar celebrity trial subplot that hangs in the background of the overall story. But truly, the centerpiece of this story is Chip, since his journey is powerful and fascinating for certain.
 
Because once you get past the overtly twisted and oft dangerous behavior he exhibits in this film, you are able to see the fact that he is an outright broken man. One who has suffered so much trauma and heartache in his life that escaping into a fantasy world is the only thing that has brought him some measure of joy and peace. But at the same time, his push to escape into the comforting confines of television and film have indeed done him a disservice, since he doesn’t have the social skills or acumen to properly interact with people and truly, there is a measure of pity that the audience feels for Chip as the story rolls along simply because it is downright heartbreaking to see a human in this shattered state. Granted, it doesn’t absolve his behavior in the movie, but it does make one ponder what Chip would have been like, had someone taken the time to see him as a person and not as a weirdo, the way that Steven views him.
 
If anything, the toxic nature of Steven and Chip’s relationship also provides us with another layer of commentary since it speaks volumes to how we sometimes let bad relationships in any capacity persist in our lives rather than be honest with one another, or ourselves, and the fact that this movie has so much to say about the human condition is what makes it so unique and so magnificent and every time I watch it, I feel as though I come away with something new. Plus, you simply cannot go wrong with the performances in this motion picture since Matthew Broderick and Jim Carrey are perfect on screen together and know how to play off one another and truly, Carrey does steal the show here with his powerful performance as Chip and really, when all is said and done, this is an underrated film that deserves more attention. So, if you haven’t seen this one and you’re looking for something that’s unique and intelligent and twisted, then give this one a shot. Because it really is something special.   

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