Guarding Tess (1994)
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59% of critics liked it
(32 reviews) -
50% of users liked it
(19,416 ratings)
A man trained for a life of excitement and danger is given a new and unexpected challenge -- minding a grouchy old woman -- in this comedy. Doug Chesnic (Nicolas Cage) is a Secret Service agent who takes great pride in his job, performing his duties with the utmost professionalism and always minding… More A man trained for a life of excitement and danger is given a new and unexpected challenge -- minding a grouchy old woman -- in this comedy. Doug Chesnic (Nicolas Cage) is a Secret Service agent who takes great pride in his job, performing his duties with the utmost professionalism and always minding the details. However, his assignment for the last three years has been a severe test of his patience; Tess Carlisle (Shirley MacLaine) is the widow of a former U.S. president who is well-known for her diplomatic and philanthropic work, and Doug has been in charge of her security force. But Tess tends to regard Doug less as a security officer and more as a domestic servant, like her chauffeur Earl (Austin Pendleton) or her nurse Frederick (Richard Griffiths). While Doug regards it as beneath his professional dignity to perform little chores around the house or bring Tess her breakfast in bed, she orders him to do so, and he's in no position to say, "no." Sometimes, Tess even refuses to obey Doug's security instructions, and should he argue his point too strongly, Tess will contact her close friend, the President of the United States, and ask him to give Doug a severe dressing down. So when Doug's three year hitch with Tess comes to an end, he asks to be given a more exciting and challenging assignment. However, Tess has other ideas; she's decided that she likes working with Doug, and she demands that his assignment be made permanent. Director Hugh Wilson also provides the voice of the President. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Hugh Wilson
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Comedy
PG-13,
- In Theaters
- Mar 11, 1994 Wide
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Leonard Klady, Variety
The film is indeed likable. But director Hugh Wilson, who co-wrote the script with Peter Torokvei, just skims the surface of potentially rich territory.
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Derek Adams, Time Out
Cage is on best behaviour here, but he's not an especially sympathetic performer.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
Mr. Cage, once again sounding mock-suave and Elvisy, makes the most of his character's fragile cool.
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Richard Harrington, Washington Post
Like the role itself, Cage is clearly in service here to a fabled but fading star, and he seldom slips on that second banana.
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Desson Thomson, Washington Post
What counts is the comic tension between MacLaine and Cage. It's so well done, it doesn't matter how dumb things get.
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Shirley MacLaine
as Tess Carlisle
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Nicolas Cage
as Doug Chesnic
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Austin Pendleton
as Earl Fowler
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Edward Albert
as Barry Carlisle
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James Rebhorn
as Howard Shaeffer
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John Roselius
as Tom Bahlor
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David Graf
as Lee Danielson
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Dale Dye
as Charles Ivy
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James Handy
as Neal Carlo
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Susan Blommaert
as Kimberly Cannon
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Al Cerullo
as Helicopter Pilot
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John Louis Fischer
as Crew Member
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Michael Gabel
as Kidnapper
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James Lally
as Joe Spector
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Harry J. Lennix
as Kenny Young
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Katie O'Hare
as Barbara
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Diana Sowle
as Hairdresser
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Brant Van Hoffman
as Bob Hutcherson
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Don Yesso
as Ralph Buoncristiani
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Hugh Wilson
as The President
- Aleta Helena Chappelle
