Befriended by an over-eager, off-balanced cable-installer, a young businessman (played by a fatigued Matthew Broderick) finds the nutcase is quickly taking over his life. Black comedy, sloppily directed by Ben Stiller, hopes to get by on the leeringly obnoxious lead performance by Jim Carrey alone. Carrey, an acquired taste, gleefully runs roughshod over this thin material, take it to irritating lows. The movie is intentionally twisted and uncomfortable, yet it is unsuccessful at mining laughs from its unpleasantness. Broderick, who has affable moments, is mostly around to gape, while director Stiller shows intermittent visual style but can't seem to reign Carrey in. *1/2 from ****
Review of The Cable Guy
