June 16, 1996 -- Sometimes a movie star comes along who is so popular he can make a not-so-hot film into a big hit. It is a rare talent, but Jim Carrey has the gift and it has made him a multimillionaire.

The latest film starring Carrey, "The Cable Guy," is not a very good film. It is a comedy that is largely unfunny. Some of the acting is just plain sloppy and the ending is goofy, but the film will probably gross over $100 million.

I wonder if it would make any difference at all if the film was good. Would it make even more money? We'll have to wait and see.

Carrey plays the title character in the movie. He installs "free cable" for Steven Kovacs (Matthew Broderick) and then begins to worm his way into Kovacs life. When Kovacs rejects the cable guy, the cable guy gets revenge by framing Kovacs for receiving stolen property and then gets Kovacs fired from his job.

The cable guy seems a little strange at first, but likable, but the character gets meaner and more menacing as the film progresses. He turns out to be a tortured soul in desperate need of friendship. He is more creepy than funny.

The role gives Carrey plenty of freedom to use his comic talents, the funny faces, impersonations, sound effects and his manic intensity. Carrey fans will love this, but he's really not enough the carry the show.

What really surprised me was how poorly Broderick performs in this film. His comic timing seems to be off. Some of his reactions to Carrey's hijinks were way off base. Director Ben Stiller ("Reality Bites") has done good work before, but this film seems uneven. It looks like everybody is coasting on this one, hoping Carrey will bring home the bacon. He probably will. This film rates a C-.

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