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#1 ·


The Review at a Glance: ( max score: 5 )

Film:


Extras:


Audio/Video total rating:

( Max score: 100 )

82






Studio and Year: Columbia Pictures- 1996
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Feature running time: 96 minutes
Genre: Comedy/Thriller


Disc Format: BD-25
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 2.40:1
Resolution: 1080p/24


Audio Format(s): English, French DTS-HD MA 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin (Traditional), Thai
Starring: Jim Carrey, Matthew Broderick, Jack Black and Leslie Mann
Directed by: Ben Stiller
Music by: John Ottman
Written by: Lou Holtz Jr.
Region Code: A/B/C

Blu-ray Disc release Date: March 1, 2011







"There's No Such Thing as Free Cable."



Film Synopsis:


Jim Carrey is Chip Douglas, cable installer. Raised on television sitcoms, he wants life to look just like My Three Sons. And when he meets single guy Steven Kovacs (Matthew Broderick), he sees his chance for some serious male bonding. But Chip's idea of friendship - which includes physical assault, a game of 'Porno Password' and a medieval joust - may be hazardous to Steven's health. In Chip's own immortal words, "I can be your best friend... or your worst enemy." Directed by Ben Stiller (Reality Bites).




My Take:

'The Cable Guy' is one one of my all time favorite comedies. Released in 1996, audiences expected the normal Jim Carrey slapstick but ended up confused by the films much darker tone. Critics and moviegoers alike generally panned it, while I loved it. When I saw it in the theaters I immediately got it, loving its humor, as well as connecting with both of the films leads. When the film ends, I was relived for one of them and sad for the other. Through all of the films insanity, it has a heart. To this day it all still resonates with me like it did 15 years ago. Maybe this is why I have seen it multiple time, never changing the channel when I comes on cable.


When Steven Kovacs (Matthew Broderick) separates from his lady friend (Leslie Mann), he gets a new pad. When he propositions the cable installer, Chip Douglas (Jim Carrey) about getting him to get free stations he gets more than he bargained for. After he gives Steven free pay channels, Chip believes they have struck up a friendship. Steven is a bit of a weak soul, and he is guilted into hanging out with Chip. Chip begins to stalk him, and when Steven tries to end this forced friendship, things get even more ugly...


The film has so many classic lines and moments for me. I really loved its teetering balance of comedy, thriller and just weird. It seemed to be a great mix for its great cast. Supporting Carrey and Broderick are Jack Black as Stephen's concerned best friend Rick and Leslie Mann as his girlfriend Robin. Directed by Ben Stiller, it has cameos by Ben Stiller Show regulars Andy Dick and Janeane Garafalo as well as George Segal, Eric Roberts, David Cross and Owen Wilson. The script, casting and direction all combined to make this off-beat dark comedy click. I think those who didn't like it 15 years ago should give it another spin, and those who dug it should re-visit it as well. It just seems to age like a fine wine for me, and still feels fresh to this day.







Parental Guide:


Rated PG-13 for dark thematic elements and crude humor.




AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**


(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)

Audio: 82


  • Dynamics:

  • Low frequency extension:

  • Surround Sound presentation:

  • Clarity/Detail:

  • Dialogue Reproduction:




Video: 82


  • Resolution/Clarity:

  • Black level/Shadow detail:

  • Color reproduction:

  • Fleshtones:

  • Compression:
'The Cable Guy' comes to Blu-ray Disc from Sony Home Entertainment featuring 1080p AVC encoded video and DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround Sound.

I have seen 'The Cable Guy' on the big screen, on DVD as well as cable, so I am familiar with its look. This Blu-ray release from Sony is the best I have seen it, but there is still some thing lacking. It could have used a bit more attention or possibly a re-master. It looks to me like it come from the same source as previous releases. The bad is there is it has a bit of noise and transfer could use a good scrubbing. It seems to have a flatter look than a modern new release. The good is that the colors look better then I have seen them before, with nice accurate skin-tones. The overall look is a little less defined then I like to see, but the healthy veil of film grain shows that Sony let the source ride without any detrimental processing. 'The Cable Guy's' audio track is standard fare that does nothing to wow. It has a few stand out moments that come in the way of its sound-track. Jefferson Airplane's Somebody to love sounds spectacular in the karaoke jam scene. Besides this, surrounds are present but nothing note worthy and dialogue always discernible.



Bonus Features:



  • Audio Commentary with Ben Stiller, Judd Apatow, and Jim Carrey

  • "Awesoom"-Gag Reel

  • Deleted and Extended Scenes

  • Leslie Mann Audition

  • "Leave Me Alone" Music Video

  • Nightmare Camera Test

  • Comedy Central Canned Ham Presents: The Cable Guy

  • (HD) Theatrical Trailer

  • (HD) Trailers

  • BD Live enabled




Final Thoughts:


I love 'The Cable Guy'. I think those who didn't like it should give it another spin, and those who dug it should re-visit it as well. It just seems to age like a fine wine for me, and still feels fresh to this day. The audio commentary with Ben Stiller, Judd Apatow, and Jim Carrey is as funny as the film itself, and is pretty insightful. this is Jim Carrey at his best, he really shines mixing comedy with some interesting acting, foreshadowing his departure from the his pure slapstick days of the 90s. I recommend this release to fans of the film with ease, and for the uninitiated a rental should be worth your time.













Lee Weber
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews




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Sony PS3 Slim Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)

Artison Portrait Speakers (5.1)

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#2 ·
I wasn't that crazy about this when it first came out like alot of people back then. For whatever reason I was let down by Jim's performance. I see it on cable (of all places, imagine that!) every now and then and watch some of it, and can't help but LOL at alot of the scenes. It kind of falls flat somehow during certain stretches of the movie. But when watching it I can't help but think this was 1 of his best roles. It's also kind of cool to see various people who were unknowns back then but are now big stars. I'd almost love to see a sequel for this.
 
#3 ·
Lee, you gained some points with this review. This movie is panned much more often than it ought to be, in my opinion. I think a lot of people just didn't know what to make of Carrey in this movie. He wasn't the Dumb and Dumber/Ace Ventura/Mask guy....he's was an unstable, creepy, needy, tragic figure who very effectively made several of the scenes in that film both funny and uncomfortable at the same time. I think Carrey's acting was top notch and it was sort of the first step in his departure from the typecast roles he started off with. I definitely agree with your suggestion about revisiting this one!
 
#8 ·
I loved this movie when it came out and love it even more now. I remember it being panned by critics as a turkey and it didn't make alot of money at the box office in relation to Carrey's previous movies at that time.


I loved dark comedies so I thought I'd give it a try in the theater and it was half full but we were all laughing throughout the movie and thought it was Carrey's best movie yet. Could never understand why it tanked at the box office but it could have been unreal expectations since it was a more mature comedy and alot of Carrey's younger fans back then were expecting more of an Ace Ventura\\Dumb and Dumber type of comedy. Also I think it was more suited for a older audience who would appreciate the 60's and 70's TV references.


The Star Trek parody of Kirk and Spock's fight at the Medevil Knights dinner has become almost as classic as the scene it parodied. One of the most underrated comedies around and really ahead of it's time with it's theme.
 
#9 ·
For me, the most interesting part of this release is that Stiller, Apatow & Carrey all came back to record a brand new commentary 15 years after making the film together. I'm really excited to hear how they reflect on the film's reputation both at the time of release (terrible) and in the years after (almost a cult classic).


Anyone heard it yet? Is it as fascinating as it I hope it is?
 
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