Tess und ihr Bodyguard

GUARDING TESS takes a crochety, ailing, widowed former First Lady (MacClaine) and one very reluctant Secret Service agent (Cage) and pairs them on a path that spells almost certain doom for one of them. She can't get along with anyone, including her grown son who ignores her. And Cage just can't get along with her. Naturally, over time, they form a strong bond. Then the unexpected happens. Their world is turned upside down when she is kidnapped. The movie shifts into high melodrama at this point and never lets up until the end. The music begins to thunder down on us, Cage badly overacts, mostly yelling and bellowing, and the film almost goes off the rails. Austin Pendleton hams it up as the First Lady's neurotic driver, and frankly he's not very good in this one. A mostly entertaining little movie that soon enough gets too big for its britches. See it and decide for yourself.

Guarding Tess is a film that relies on character and dialogue for its impact rather than flashy special effects or frenetic action. The humour is subtle rather than sledge-hammer, a rare achievement for a modern comedy.

The interaction between the eponymous Tess (Shirley MacLaine) and her chief minder (Nicholas Cage)is well scripted and beautifully played. There are also some fine supporting performances from the likes of Richard Griffiths.

Well worth investing 90 minutes of your time to watch.

Guarding Tess is a light, likable film that has good intentions and is easily entertaining. However, it is pretty forgettable and this film has similar themes and plot points as the much better film, Driving Miss Daisy. Both films are about a younger guy and an older woman going at it with each other before their relationship improved. But all in all, this is a good, light-hearted film.

Hugh Wilson's film is about a Special Agent Douglas who has been trained for the very best. Instead, he is assigned to keep watch over former First Lady Tess Carlisle. We realize that these two people have nothing in common and is very hard to get along.

The acting is solid. Shirley MacLaine is one of Hollywood's best and rumor has it that this role is very similar to her real-life persona. But, she was magnificent here. Nicolas Cage is also good and his role is very restrained for once. There are other wonderful 90's character actors that take up the screen including Richard Griffiths and James Rebhorn.

Overall, this is a delightful, mild-mannered film about two people with nothing in common defying odds so that they begin to respect each other. This is labeled as a comedy, but I can't see why. I hardly laughed, but this works very well as a drama. This film reminds me greatly of Driving Miss Daisy and I think that's a good thing. I rate this film 8/10.

Although Nicolas Cage showed a new range and talent in "Leaving Las Vegas", I think it is roles like this one in "Guarding Tess" where he is at his best. He plays a Secret Service agent who is having a frustrating time protecting the fiesty former first lady, Shirley McClain. Lots of funny dialogue, the chemistry between the two is great.

Not quite as over the top as "Raising Arizona" or "Honeymoon in Vegas" (although he was hilarious in both of those as well)...He's got the facial expressions and timing of a great comic actor.

There are also some good supporting performances. You'll laugh a lot watching this movie. One that might slip under the radar screen but is definitely worth checking out.

I have to admit, in some strange way, I enjoyed Guarding Tess very much. Despite it being predictable and they could have worked the comedy a little better, especially with Shirly, I think this was a decent little movie that anyone could enjoy. I think Shirly and Nicolas has very good chemistry. Nick also did a great performance for such a small movie, I felt for him so much in the end. You'll see what I mean on that part, I think we all could feel for him. It's just a nice movie that has some very heart touching moments, so I would recommend for a Saturday afternoon. I think you'll enjoy it.

7/10