Cable Guy, The MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +3 Content: -2

Jim Carrey fans who flock to his latest effort may be in for a surprise, although it could appeal to those who enjoy dark comedy. His title character in THE CABLE GUY invades the life of Steven Kovacs (Matthew Broderick). Kovacs, living in a new apartment after a break-up with his girlfriend, wants to get free movie channels on his cable TV. The Cable Guy agrees to hook him up, but won't take money for this service - what he really wants is a friend. Kovacs placates him for a while, but grows uncomfortable with the Cable Guy's increasingly bizarre behavior and seeks to end the friendship. This needy loner doesn't go away quietly, however. He initiates a series of episodes that cause Kovacs to end up in jail, lose his job, damage his relationships and nearly drive him over the edge of sanity. Some may find Carrey's creepy behavior unsettling, although THE CABLE GUY does have sympathy for this character. His actions arise out of a desperate desire for acceptance, and the film makes subtle points about a generation of children raised by the electronic babysitter.

Several elements more than justify the PG-13 rating for THE CABLE GUY. There is a fairly violent scene as the Cable Guy assaults a man who is dating Kovacs' girlfriend. Kovacs and the Cable Guy engage in a Medieval-style battle with swords and they joust on horseback in a scene played for comic effect, and in their final confrontation they have a serious fist fight. Language is also a problem, especially with frequent crude words and regular profanities. Sexual content includes off-screen intercourse with a prostitute and some homosexual references in a prison scene. At one point the Cable Guy initiates a word game using clinical and crude terms for sexual organs. Those moviegoers accustomed to the style of Carrey's ACE VENTURA films will find that THE CABLE GUY has plenty of off-color humor, but with a mean-spirited flavor. Violence, language and dark humor make it especially inappropriate for discriminating viewers and youngsters who may be drawn to his films.

Preview Reviewer: Mark Perry
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232