Guarding Tess

I am still uncertain about how I feel about this movie. It is pretty good, except that watching it sometimes gets very annoying. Some of the dialogues aren't as much funny as painful to watch. I feel for Cage's character while wishing the movie would just end. So, after watching it all the way through once, I have decided not to watch it more than 5 times. I have time to spend on other movies than one that just is annoying to watch.

Interesting premises for a screwball comedy based around the nagging wants of a former First Lady and her relationship with the tired and frustrated Secret Service man. The performances by the two leads are perfect and certain situations are clever. But the third act ends on a ridiculous serious note that killed the film as a whole. And the music is way over the top.

While the intent is good I found this movie on the annoying side due to the fact that #1 no former first lady would ever get away with all the various antics/tantrums that this character gets away with. Frankly no one would care how mad she got if she couldn't get her way regardless of how her husband died in office or what he did for his VP who then becomes President. How many real Vice Presidents who became president catered to the every whim of their former bosses wife? For that matter did any ever even speak to their former bosses wife after they became president? #2 no secret service agent would allow himself to be bullied by someone like the Shirley Maclaine character or even the president for that matter. The Cage character is cast in such a way that he has to put up with all this because it's his job and if he quits then he has no where to go in life. Any secret service agent could write his own ticket out in the civilian world. Did the makers of this film think that the viewers are that stupid? Besides that the idiotic plot (possible spoiler here) of these guys (SS agents) who watch every little movement of their client like an Owl watches a field for a mouse are duped by a goofball chauffeur in a kidnap plot was too far fetched.

This should not be a spoiler except in terms of flavor; this fine film brings me back to "Driving Miss Daisy." A reluctant secret service agent (Cage) is forced to renew his term for "guarding" a moody, very bright, usually difficult former first lady. From an infinite number of quickly subdued facial expressions, inhalations, and rare comments, we see that Tess (the former first lady) is a complicated character, built of far more complex material than that which has created simply a tiresome, demanding and spoiled lady finding herself in old age without having prepared for the life she has now. Rather quickly, we see her aloneness in the world. Less quickly, Cage too sees it and exhibits an understanding that far transcends the many funny moments in this serious work. See it. If you understand how close to the soul its scratches are, your eyes won't be dry at the end.

A well written, well acted movie. Highly under rated and under appreciated. Great characters, great dialogue. Cage and MacLaine are excellent. I am normally no fan of MacLaine. See this movie and enjoy!

Nicholas Cage is "Guarding Tess" in this 1994 film starring Shirley MacLaine, Austin Pendleton, Edward Albert, Richard Griffiths, and James Rebhorn. Shirley MacLaine is a much beloved ex-first lady who has Secret Service protection, and one of her protectees, Doug Chesnic (Cage) is thrilled when his round of duty is over. However, Tess makes a request of the president (her husband's vice president) to let Doug stay on a little longer. Annoyed, Doug starts standing up to her more, bringing on himself the wrath of the President of United States, who's sick of hearing from her. Doug and Tess finally start bonding - she in a way she could never do with her own son - and then something happens that threatens both of them in different ways. I love Nicholas Cage in comedy - "Honeymoon in Vegas" comes to mind - and he has some hilarious moments in this as Tess and his situation become more aggravating to him. He does a terrific job. Shirley MacLaine is wonderful as Tess - feisty, annoying, vulnerable, and sad. This is a very sweet and funny film and not at all cloying. It's a little contrived; however, the performances really make it a good rental.

I read that this was a political themed comedy, the title certainly gave you an idea what it involved, and I was told it was a reasonably good watch, with average critic ratings as well, so I gave it a go, from director Hugh Wilson (Police Academy, The First Wives Club, Blast from the Past). Basically Doug Chesnic (Nicolas Cage) is a Secret Service Agent who works to protect the former First Lady and widow to the former President of the United States, Tess Carlisle (Golden Globe nominated Shirley MacLaine), it is a job he does not enjoy however, because he loathes the way she treats him. Tess treats Doug as more of a servant than a member of security, unlike her real assistant staff like chauffeur Earl Fowler (Austin Pendleton) and nurse Frederick (Richard Griffiths), she asks him to the simplest and most demeaning of tasks, and whenever he complains she calls the current President and he phones him in annoyance, and he can't seem to get away from her as she reassigns him after three years. But Tess during a hospital visit watches the footage of her late husband's funeral, and she notices Doug in the footage, she grieves for a long while, and as she recovers she tries to make more of an effort towards her head of security, and there is also a kidnap threat where he becomes highly concerned for her, so in the end Tess and Doug are much better toward each other. Also starring Edward Albert as Barry Carlisle, Independence Day's James Rebhorn as Howard Schaeffer, John Roselius as Tom Bahlor, David Graf as Lee Danielson, Don Yesso as Ralph Buoncristiani and James Lally as Joe Spector. Cage is relatively good being the annoyed bodyguard, but obviously the key role and the big reason for this film being mildly memorable is indeed MacLaine, the problem is though that her performance is so close to realistic that the film isn't all that funny, I didn't laugh that much to be honest, I found it annoying, predictable in places, cringing for the wrong reasons, and overall just a bit dull, not my kind of comedy. Okay!

Shirley has done it again. What a great film. The relationship between her and the Secret Service agent is excellent... The ways she tricks them call for great writing. I enjoyed each moment of this film I just wonder what First Lady Shirley was copying ???? See it to find out. It is a gem

This is an unexpected pearl of a movie. Neither of the two stars, Shirley MacLaine or Nicholas Cage, are normally high on my list of favorites, but they pull off this odd ball relationship to perfection. There's chemistry here, just not in the usual sense of the word! It's a plot idea unlike any I've previously encountered... Doug (Nicholas Cage) is a Secret Service man assigned the dubious honor of "guarding Tess" Carlisle (Shirley MacLaine), the feisty, aging, crotchety widow of a former American President and friend to the current President (who owes her favors and she doesn't let him forget it!). Nothing Doug does pleases Tess; nothing ANYONE does pleases Tess. Yet, she has an obvious underlying affection for her Secret Service guard, the only agent she'll in fact tolerate, who most of the time wishes he had just about any other job. Tess's own son totally neglects her and she's a lonely lady, caught up in old memories of her past White House days, when she and her husband were objects of great respect, affection, and attention. Tess is a cantankerous character now (of course Shirley MacLaine's a natural for the part!) but altogether sympathetic. I won't give away the story but Doug has his work cut out for him, and not just putting up with her moods, whims, and assorted outrages. The plot thickens and drama awaits... There's action and adventure but the movie is much more character driven than plot driven. It's a treat to watch the unfolding relationship between this unlikely pair. Whether it's a realistic scenario or not, it makes for an entertaining, amusing, and touching movie you're bound to enjoy.

I am more than disappointed with this movie to say the least. I remember being first in line at my local movie theater at the opening day for this one. After months of previews the day had finally arrived. My anticipation level was even higher than for The Crying Game 2 (which still has yet to be produced). So I get my box of raisinettes (which are wonderful mixed with popcorn I must say. I know its a strange combination, but it really works. Whats strange is that I have tried this at home and its never as good. I think it must be the "butter flavored topping" that only a movie theater can provide. Im sorry Orville, but you have a ways to go. I was thinking of possibly purchasing my own popcorn popping machine, just as they have at my local movie theater, but I cannot afford that at this time. I was saving up money to spend on this online auction of Pauly Shore memorabilia. The flip-flops he wore in Encino Man are up to $476! wow! Maybe next year.) and I sit down in the theater. 2 hours later I walk out very disappointed. There were no love scenes what so ever! The trailers were totally alluding to 9 1/2 Weeks type sex scenes with the two stars. Instead it turned out to be this hokey comedy. To be honest, I was expecting full frontal nudity and everything. If I wanted to see a comedy, I would have gone to see Too Wong Fu or something. So yeah. Don't watch this pile of dung!