Guarding Tess *** (1994, Nicolas Cage, Shirley MacLaine, Austin Pendleton, Edward Albert, James Rebhorn, Richard Griffiths) – Classic Movie Review 7253

The amusing double act of Nicolas Cage and Shirley MacLaine give a big lift to co-writer/ director Hugh Wilson’s bumpily constructed 1994 Guarding Tess, which tells the tale of a hapless US secret service agent, Doug Chesnic (Cage), who has to look after the unbearably cantankerous former US First Lady Tess Carlisle (MacLaine) when she requests him for another year of protection duty after three years of hell in her company.

Nicolas Cage plays hapless US secret service agent Doug Chesnic in Guarding Tess (1994).

MacLaine does her daffy, waspish old lady turn to perfection and Cage finds all the quirks he needs in his role, while the slow-burning, shakily written movie eventually turns into a likeable semi-hit of a comedy drama. You are left thinking that the good idea should have made a better movie, though.

Also in the cast are Austin Pendleton, Edward Albert, James Rebhorn, Richard Griffiths, John Roslius, David Graf, Don Yesso, James Lally, Brandt Von Hoffman, Harry J Lennix, Dale Dye, Susan Blommaert, James Handy, Stephen S Chen, Kate O’Hare, Mark Conway and David L King.

Hugh Wilson, Police Academy director and Wkrp in Cincinnati creator, died at 74 on 14 January 2018. He is also the director of Rustlers’ Rhapsody, Burglar, The First Wives Club, Blast from the Past, Dudley Do-Right and Mickey.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7253

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