Ok so obviously the Cable Guy can be a bit much in the movie sure...But he literarily got Steven's GF back for him and gave him free cable and Steven just drops him?
The fact that The Cable guy was able to get Robin back for Steven alone should have earned him friendship and Steven should have been kissing his ass.
I did not like Steven or feel bad for what happened after he drops The Cable guy when Robin comes back.
Yeah, from the first time I saw it I thought Steven was an asshole.
shareMatthew Broderick's performance is the one thing that made this film work. He comes off as an amiable guy who isn't a snob or someone who looks down on a lesser person such as Carrey's Chip Douglas character.
Firstly, Steven was kind enough to go out to the satellite with Chip. Most people would outright reject a strange cable guy wanting to hang out with them, but he was fine with it and enthusiastically got his coat and went out to meet him. Then Chip wrecks Steven's basketball game, embarrassing him in front of his other friends. Chip then bombards Steven with dozens of messages on his answering machine, which is a huge red flag yet Steven still gives him the time of day after that.
Steven then accepts Chip's invitation to Medieval Times, even though he is thinking about telling Chip that he doesn't want to be friends anymore before they enter the building. After their joust, Chip appears to be back in Steven's good books again as they walk to Steven's apartment, as he's telling him what a great time he had. That is, until they enter his place and Steven finds out that Chip has broke into it and put thousands of dollars worth of home entertainment units into his home while he wasn't there.
Chip then throws a party at Steven's place, inviting all the weirdo's he knows to it, setting him up with a hooker while he's still with Robin, which enrages and upsets Steven the next day when he finds out.
You see, everytime Chip had an opportunity to be Steven's friend, he blew it. He came on too strong, he acted weird, he broke into his place when he wasn't home, he stalked him with messages, he embarrassed him in front of his friends. Chip was friendless because he was weird. Even after all the bad things that Chip done to Steven, he still begs Chip not to jump off the satellite dish at the end and is genuinely concerned for him.
The Cable Guy was one of the best comedies of the 90s. It's a stone cold classic, and Jim Carrey's best along with the Truman Show.
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I get what you're saying and Yes I agree that Chip was bizarre and weird and way too much...But couple things.
1. Steven went to the satellite for his own enjoyment too...He was beyond Depressed and didn't just want to sit in his apartment mopping.
2. The Basketball scene was too much. I would have been pissed.
3. Chip did fix the Cable when Steven needed him too (Even though we can tell Chip caused it to go out, but Steven didnt know that...The Medieval times was pretty cool. A bit much bit still Cool.
4. Breaking into his apartment was too far and even though the gifts were nice. Still too much.
5. The Party Steven Agreed too. Also him sleeping with the prostitute was also his decision. Steven could have said No to both things.
6. He did get Robin back then...
Trust me Chip way overstepped at times..I am just saying the Free Cable, Fixing it when Robin came over, Medieval times and getting Robin back were some really nice things.
Thanks for replying.
1. That's true, but Steven could easily have told Chip to go away when he turns up. He waves enthusiastically at Chip and seems to trust him. That's a good thing for someone to do, not many would do that. If Steven was a villain then he'd balk at a cable guy wanting to hang out with a successful professional such as himself.
3. Yes that's a good point, Chip sabotages the cable during Sleepless in Seattle but Steven probably doesn't know that. There is a chance that Steven suspects something is up, but realizes it's difficult to complain when he got cable for free.
5. Yes, you're right, It was Steven's decision to sleep with the hooker, but the only reason that happened was Chip paid her to come onto him (pretty strong) and Steven thought she was just a normal party guest. It is the turning point in the movie because they're sitting down to eat breakfast the next morning and it looks like Chip is, again, back in Steven's good books and they're ready to be friends again. Steven feels betrayed by Chip deceiving him with a pro and and kicks him out, and that sets up the ending where everything goes crazy.
All Chip had to do to stay friends with Steven was not say she was a hooker. He always had a chance to be his friend but blew it.
I am just saying the Free Cable, Fixing it when Robin came over, Medieval times and getting Robin back were some really nice things.
You know what I realized..I did not word what I wanted to say right....The Timing of Stephen ending the friendship is what I hated I guess.
Had he done it at Medievil Times or a different time sure...But the fact that he did it after Chip fixed the Cable during his date with Robin and after she thanked him for the free Cable (AKA he realizes Chip got her back) was where it was wrong.
My biggest issue is Steven blaming Chip for the prostate...Sure he could have let him know that was what she was, but again Steven choose to sleep with her.
You know what I realized..I did not word what I wanted to say right....The Timing of Stephen ending the friendship is what I hated I guess.
Had he done it at Medievil Times or a different time sure...But the fact that he did it after Chip fixed the Cable during his date with Robin and after she thanked him for the free Cable (AKA he realizes Chip got her back) was where it was wrong.
My biggest issue is Steven blaming Chip for the prostate...Sure he could have let him know that was what she was, but again Steven choose to sleep with her.
The funny thing is that Steven was about to break off their friendship at Medieval Times, right before he's called onto the floor for the joust. Had Chip not smuggled all that stolen shit into Steven's place when he was out, he would've had Steven's friendship for good.
I think the phrase self sabotage is fitting for someone like Chip.
And yes, ultimately Steven is to blame for the hooker. He might've used it as an excuse to finally get rid of Chip, or rather, he took his guilt from cheating on Robin and put it all on Chip.
Do you yourself have stalker-like tendencies, perhaps?
shareWhile I find Steven to be a somewhat flawed character I thought he was a decent person, he could've been nicer towards Chip when he needed to be left alone but I didn't feel Steven deserved to be treated horribly for his behavior.
shareI got the impression Steven was obsessive about Robin and had a tendency to ditch his friends for her and him being clingy was a reason they broke up. I never liked his character, The Cable Guy was to Steven how Steven was to Robin. Obsessive and not giving him any space or having a separate life. Jack Blacks character was pissed at Steven for going with Robin when a real friend would have just switched his date night.
shareThis is actually really a good thought and very possible. Never thought of it. And yea Steven was way obsessed with Robin...Knowing him they probably only dated 3 months before he proposed.
shareYeah, she was already doing dates with complete strangers a few days after they took a break. It doesn't sound like something a long term girlfriend would do. If I was Steven and knew about that alone, I would be waving her bye.
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