The Cable Guy - Sony Movie Channel

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Jim Carrey is plugged in

Jim Carrey is perfectly cast as the unhinged cable guy in this biting satire. 4/5 stars

Mild-mannered Matthew Broderick makes the mistake of employing Carrey to install his new cable TV system - and then can't get rid of him.

Consistently inventive and completely out of control, Carrey is superb, though this merciless comedy's mix of belly laughs, pathos and truly vicious streak was too much for many critics and audiences back in 1996.

However, that's precisely where director Ben Stiller's movie shows its greatness. The many high spots include Carrey's joust in the daffy Medieval Times theme park, the inspired TV murder trial running gag and the slapstick finale, which is set, appropriately enough, in a big satellite dish.

Jason Best
Jason Best

A film critic for over 25 years, Jason admits the job can occasionally be glamorous – sitting on a film festival jury in Portugal; hanging out with Baz Luhrmann at the Chateau Marmont; chatting with Sigourney Weaver about The Archers – but he mostly spends his time in darkened rooms watching films. He’s also written theatre and opera reviews, two guide books on Rome, and competed in a race for Yachting World, whose great wheeze it was to send a seasick film critic to write about his time on the ocean waves. But Jason is happiest on dry land with a classic screwball comedy or Hitchcock thriller.