The Cable Guy 4K 1996

“I can be your very best friend or your worst enemy. The choice is yours, Stephen!”

In 1996, Jim Carrey became the first actor in film history to receive an incredible $20 million paycheck for the lead role in Ben Stiller's film ' “The Cable Guy,” making him the highest-paid actor of the ’90s, but the film itself, upon its release, proved too difficult for the general American audience to grasp.

It caused a huge stir among critics, who simply couldn’t figure out what kind of movie they’d been shown—was it a comedy, a drama, or a thriller? And what was Jim Carrey even doing in it? Opinions ranged from complete rejection and condemnation to utter delight and admiration.

I don’t know whom American audiences believed, but I know one thing for sure—from today’s perspective, the film stands out as one of the best in the careers of both Ben Stiller and Jim Carrey.

It was in “The Cable Guy” that Jim Carrey first dared to undertake an experiment that’s difficult for any actor in the U.S.—breaking free from the imposed stereotype of the clown. For the first time in his 10-year career, Jim decided to open up a little to the audience, to play a serious role—to be funny, but serious. He was determined to prove, come what may, that he wasn’t just a rubber-faced comedian (The Mask and Ventura), but an actor capable of tackling any role.

I don’t know about anyone else, but he proved it to me, even though the whole world didn’t discover the real Kerry until a little later—in “The Truman Show.” And “The Cable Guy” came out too early for audiences to accept and understand the new Kerry, although the film was well-received in Europe.

What can I say about it? A masterpiece. A dazzling performance by Kerry, who added psychological depth to his signature style by playing a man raised by television—a sort of “human fast food” of modern America—a man sick with television who spreads his contagious disease to others. He played a man for whom television had replaced his life, his family, his name—as well as his soul and mind...

He played the role brilliantly and tragically. His character is both terrifying and pitiable! You hate him and yet feel sympathy for him—only Carrey could pull off a performance like that. Jim’s gaze in one of the film’s scenes is utterly mesmerizing! It becomes frightening when you realize that the cable installer’s tragedy is the tragedy of an entire generation.

That said, Jim Carrey remained partly true to himself: in the scenes featuring basketball, a joust, or a karaoke party, he displays remarkable control over his face and body.

Behind Carrey’s brilliant performance, the very sentimental and ordinary Broderick remains in the shadows. Stiller himself did a great job as a director; he has never made anything better and is unlikely to do so, but in this film, he clearly made his attitude toward show business and television as a whole known.

Incidentally, the constant references to and reimagining of movies and TV series in the film are a brilliant touch, including the recurring “commentary” from what appear to be movies and news segments.

This film is one of a kind; there will never be another like it. A huge success for Stiller and Kerry.