12 Reasons The Cable Guy Is The Greatest Comedy Of The '90s

By Raymond Keith Woods /

6. Bathroom Beating

You know how in all those classic camp thrillers like The Crush and Fear when the deranged person interested in the main character commits a sinister act of aggression against someone in the life of the person they're obsessed with? For instance, in The Crush Adrian (Alicia Silverstone) is stone-cold, crazy in love with the much older Nick (Carey Elwes). She is so in love and so obscenely jealous that she attacks Nick's girlfriend, who she sees as an obstacle to being with the one she loves. This film, like others of its ilk, always contain a climax scene like this where innocent attraction turns to dangerous obsession. Stiller and company must have had movies like The Crush when making The Cable Guy. It's obvious to see the inspiration when viewing the scene where Chip Douglas attacks Steven's old girlfriend's new boyfriend (an Owen Wilson cameo) to show his devotion to Steven. It's obviously a parody of the classic Fatal Attraction trope and Carrey is playing it on all comedic cylinders. You're already laughing when the scene begins and he shows up for the attack dressed like Freddie Mercury while Curtis Mayfield's theme from Superfly is playing. The beat down is a thoroughly hilarious affair involving monkey pantomime, Dizzy Gillespie references, adept bursts of physical violence, and a great fake mustache. It's a hilarious scene. Probably the funniest in the movie. You can even see Owen Wilson at certain points about to lose it. Such is the effect of Jim Carrey's comedic genius. Even when you're being beat up by him, it's funny.