The Cable Guy The Cable Guy 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. Despite a modest commercial reception, the movie received mixed reviews. Over the years, the film has been considered by many as one of the most underrated works of Jim Carrey and Ben Stiller. After a failed marriage proposal to his
The Cable Guy the Cable Guy was a likeable loser who intrudes upon the cable subscriber's life, but never in a physically threatening way. Carrey, Apatow and Stiller liked the setup of "somebody who is really smart with technology invading somebody's life", and opted to add slapstick and darker tones, changing into a satire of thrillers such as "Cape Fear", "Unlawful Entry" and "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle". The dialogue would also fit Carrey's style of comedy. Holtz wrote four additional drafts, each one darker than the previous, before leaving the project and giving Apatow the opportunity to take over the writing.