MovieChat Forums > The Cable Guy (1996) Discussion > Steven was mean to the Cable Guy

Steven was mean to the Cable Guy

posted 16 years ago by whitecp2
36 replies | jump to latest

The Cable Guy bent over backwards to help Steven. Let's see what he did:

a. Free Cable
b. Got him off his couch to stop feeling sorry for himself because Robin kicked him out (ie. Medieval Times, the satellite, etc.)
c. Made Steven gain confidence in himself again
d. Big Screen TV, entertainment system, etc.
e. The biggest of all, he initiated it so Robin and Steven could get back together.
g. Some other things I might have left out.

The Cable Guy did all this for Steven and once he gets Robin back he just blows him off. I know the Cable Guy was a crazy cable man, but he was good hearted. Steven was just an *beep* who was a whiny crybaby because he wasn't with Robin 24 7. I'm on Chip's side, anyone else? I'd hang out with the Cable Guy anyday!

[–] ExplorerDS6789 16 years ago

Well I think a majority of that was due to Steven feeling his personal space was being invaded. Every guy, and every gal, needs their space, and if someone is coming in uncomfortably close, you can start to feel crowded, or even violated. It's all about privacy, how each person chooses to live their own life and not have someone interfere with their space. Sure CG was a nice guy and had only the best intentions (at first), but I guess Steven was just a guy who needed space.

Plus, the Cable Guy wanted to be around Steven ALL the time.

[–] jabbazhouse 16 years ago

No, you are totally missing the point man. The cable guy at first seemed like a totally good guy but ultimately wanted to become steven's friend and own his whole life completely to utterly destroy him as an entity. Those 2 personalities are symbiotic in nature and fed off of each other. Kinda like Spiderman 3 ya know? I don't wanna get to deep into it because it would ruin the hidden meaning thing for me. This movie is slyer than one might think. Watch this movie at least 3 times and you'll see what I mean.

[–] HumanFundRecipient 15 years ago

A heads up on the entertainment system being stolen would have been nice. But did Chip tell Steven that? NO! Threatening to reveal Steven's fling with Heather to Robin with the polaroid picture? Unfair!And all the stuff Chip said in front of Steven, the Spock vs. Kirk at the Medieval Times fight, Jerry Springer final thoughts, Jack Black's character was right!

I'm open! There's just nothing in there!

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] excel99 15 years ago

Well, having know a 'cable guy/gal' or three in my life, all I can say is for all the good things they might do for you, they expect you to pay with your soul in return. Probably some of the BEST times of my life were spent with people like this, so much fun, so many laughs. But it always ended badly.

Can you say 'personality disorder'? Come on! Repeat after me...

Anyways, I think the fact that Steven sort of took advantage of Chip at times is part of the film. Steven isn't just a victim, he deserves a lot of the stuff that happens to him. I thought the film did a good job of making that clear.

[–] Jessaly 15 years ago

I completely agree with excel. I've known people like this, and you're right, while you may have the best of times with them they become extremely inconvenient. They don't back off, they don't understand the meaning of the word "no", they get creepily obsessed with you and everything you're doing and all your friends and everything you own...and you try to easily push them off, but they're so damn clingy you have to shove them off eventually.

Which happened to Steven. And I understand. Because they may be nice by giving you possessions, but they're ultimately being *beep* for not understanding that you need SPACE.

I'll join you when hell freezes over.
Dumbledore's Army!

[–] Star_AD 12 years ago

You nailed it excel99! Totally true! I have had a couple of cable guy friends myself. Loved them but......

Joseph Gordon-Levitt becomes the next Batman

[–] love_cats_hate_dogs 15 years ago

I totally agree with the OP. Even 13 years ago when I watched the film I thought Matthew Broderick's character was a totally unsympathetic one.

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You wanna live forever?

[–] superjake2004 15 years ago

You can't help but feel sad for Jim Carrey's character, and kind of dislike Steven. There's no one to really like in this.

[–] AmericanMovieFan 15 years ago

You are all way too sympathetic. Broderick's character was totally in the right. Once CG started manipulating Broderick's family, I lost respect for the film.

Brian Peppers is my Homeboy

[–] love_cats_hate_dogs 15 years ago

He blew off his friend as well, when they were meant to go to the concert. Broderick's character seemed to only think about himself....as Carrey's character said in the film, he's only friendly when he has something to gain and ditches people when it's inconvenient.

So, a bit of a d*ck if you ask me.

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You wanna live forever?

[–] citystoporange 15 years ago

yea Steven was a jerk. and the Cable Guy wasn't being weird trying to get a friend. He's a cable guy! I'd be bored and try to make friends w/ customers too. Something we have in common? We like cable!

check this out for a good laugh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSJGro_iZPs

[–] nosferatus-teppes 15 years ago

Lot of you people have a very narrow view of diversity of people's personalities.

I think people are identifying a bit with Cable Guy's character as someone they'd find really fun to be around, which is fine. Good for you. Though when they're like this they see Broderick's character not wanting to be around Cable Guy so /obviously/ there must be something wrong with Broderick and not Cable Guy.

While he might have used CG a bit, it's more simple than people are making it out to be, the entire movie could have been avoided had he actually been an *beep* He would have never gone through the trouble of being friends with Cable Guy in the first place, because he obviously didn't want to.

[–] KillBillvol13 15 years ago

I think the OP left somethings out

1. The TV and Entertainment System were stolen and pawned off on Steve.
2. Got him a hooker with out his knowledge or consent.
3. Forced to hang out with him at Medevil times and particpate in the show.
4. Sabotaged him at his job and bascially got him fired.
5. Oh yeah don't forget he went to PRISON because of him.

Wow what a great guy!!

[–] Something2die4 15 years ago

It's really hard to believe that people are on the cable guys side. The guy was a psychopath. The cable guy was all over him, and Steven nicely told him he didn't have time for new friends at this point of his life. Then the cable guy did everything to ruin his life.

[–] excel99 15 years ago

It's just a comedy, so I wouldn't get too upset about it.

But I think it's totally valid to say that Steven is a jerk, also. Yeah, 'Chip' is a psychopath, but Steven deserves some of the crap that happens to him. He uses Chip when it's to his advantage, and dumps him when it's not.

This film wouldn't be as good if Steven was totally a victim.

[–] Takeshi666 10 years ago

If it makes you upset instead of laugh, I'd say it fails as a comedy.

[–] excel99 10 years ago

So, I take it it upset you?

Really? It was that traumatic for you?

Sorry...

[–] LadyLovie 15 years ago

I thought the same thing when I saw this in '97 as the op. but the cable guy should have just accepted the fact steven did'nt want his friendship & moved on. steven was so dull & boring I don't know why cable guy wanted to be his friend in the 1st place. if anything steven should have been seeking out the cable guy. yea,I agree with those that say steven was a jerk.

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popeye has ate his spinach

[–] starone55106 15 years ago

"But I think it's totally valid to say that Steven is a jerk, also. Yeah, 'Chip' is a psychopath, but Steven deserves some of the crap that happens to him. He uses Chip when it's to his advantage, and dumps him when it's not."

It's not that cut and dry. Steven never asked for any of the things Cable Guy did for him and always expressed concern about them (except for the hooker, but Steven didn't know she was a hooker at the time). I don't think he was taking advantage of Cable Guy, he just made the most of what was dropped into his lap.

I think Steven reacted to Cable Guy the way most people would: He tried to be nice and be his friend, but couldn't handle his clingy and intrusive nature, so he had to dump him. It's easy to say that Steven was mean to Cable Guy, but I doubt most people would have the patience to put up with someone like him.

[–] ss5mmyers 14 years ago

Steven didn't USE Chip. He called him when he had a problem with his cable. That's what a cable guy is for.
Steven was a jerk, but only because he himself was clinging to Robin, whom he should have just ditched.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] VirginOnPromNight 14 years ago

the cable guy helps him cause he desperately needs a friend. as soon as steven rejects him he sends him to jail.... case closed. that proves that he is a psycho.