Taglines: Are you ready to get wired?
The Cable Guy movie storyline. Steven Kovak has been kicked out of his apartment by his girlfriend. Steven has a new apartment, and decides to slip the cable guy (Chip) $50 for free cable. Steven then fakes an interest in Chip’s line of work. However Chip takes this to heart trying to become Steven’s best bud. When Steven no longer wants to be Chips friend the man who can do it all goes on an all out assault to ruin Steven’s life. In the backdrop is the delicate sub-plot of the trial of a former kid star for murdering his brother.
The Cable Guy is a 1996 American black comedy film directed by Ben Stiller, starring Jim Carrey and Matthew Broderick. It was released in the United States on June 14, 1996. The film co-stars Leslie Mann, Jack Black, George Segal, Diane Baker, Eric Roberts, Owen Wilson, Janeane Garofalo, David Cross, Andy Dick, Amy Stiller, and Bob Odenkirk.
About the Story
After a failed marriage proposal to his girlfriend Robin Harris, Steven M. Kovacs moves into his own apartment. Taking advice from his friend Rick, Steven bribes cable guy, Ernie “Chip” Douglas, to give him free movie channels, which he does. Chip gets Steven to hang out with him the next day and makes him one of his “preferred customers.”
Chip takes Steven to the satellite dish responsible for sending out television signals. Steven tells his problems with Robin to Chip, who advises him to admit his faults to Robin and invite her over to watch Sleepless in Seattle. Steven takes Chip’s advice, and Robin agrees to watch the movie with him. Chip begins acting more suspiciously, running into Steven and his friends at the gym and leaving several messages on Steven’s answering machine. When Robin arrives to watch the movie, the cable is out, due to Chip, who intentionally sabotaged Steven’s cable. Chip fixes the cable under the condition that they hang out again, to which Steven agrees.
Chip takes Steven to Medieval Times, where Chip arranges for them to battle in the arena, referencing the Star Trek episode “Amok Time.” Chip behaves aggressively, nearly killing Steven, who eventually bests him in combat. When they arrive at Steven’s home, Chip reveals that he’s installed an expensive home theater system in his living room. Chip and Steven later host a party and with Chip’s help, Steven sleeps with Heather, who later Chip reveals is a prostitute and Steven throws Chip out.
Chip tracks down Robin, who is on a date with another man. When the man goes to the bathroom, Chip severely beats him and tells him to stay away from Robin. He later upgrades Robin’s cable, saying that it is on Steven and Robin decides to get back together as a result. Steven tells Chip that they cannot be friends, hurting Chip, which sets Chip on a series of vengeful acts. He gets Steven arrested for possession of stolen property, although Steven is released on bail.
The Cable Guy (1996)
Directed by: Ben Stiller
Starring: Jim Carrey, Matthew Broderick, Leslie Mann, Jack Black, George Segal, Diane Baker, Ben Stiller, Eric Roberts, Janeane Garofalo, Andy Dick, Amy Stiller
Screenplay by: Lou Holtz, Jr.
Production Design by: Sharon Seymour
Cinematography by: Robert Brinkmann
Film Editing by: Steven Weisberg
Costume Design by: Erica Edell Phillips
Set Decoration by: Maggie Martin
Art Direction by: Jeff Knipp
Music by: John Ottman
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for dark thematic elements and crude humor.
Distributed by: Columbia Pictures
Release Date: June 14, 1996
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