What’s this all about?
Guarding Tess tells the story of a Secret Service agent assigned to protect the titular “Tess,” the widow of a former American president.He wants to move on to a different assignment, and she doesn’t want to comply with normal security procedures, so complications arise.
Who is Nick in this one?
Nick plays Special Agent “Doug Chesnic,” a by-the-book Secret Service agent. He’s well-trained and competent, but frustrated by his inability to get out of his current assignment.
Who else is in this one?
Shirley MacLaine plays “Tess Carlisle,” the widow of an American President. She’s beloved by the public (and respected by the current president), but she’s picky and difficult to work with. The entire film is sort of a Shirley MacLaine tour de force. She’s really excellent in the role.
Austin Pendleton plays “Earl,” Tess’ long-suffering chauffeur. You know him as the prosecutor in “My Cousin Vinnie.” He’s unrecognizable, here. It’s a small role, but he plays it very well.
Richard Griffiths plays “Frederick,” tess’ live-in nurse. You know him as Harry Potter’s Uncle Vernon Dursley. He’s very funny in this.
David Graf has a tiny role as a Secret Service agent. He’s best known as the trigger-happy “Eugene Tackleberry” from the “Police Academy” franchise. It’s nice to see him in a non-wacky role.
Edward Albert plays Tess’ scheming son in a role that really should have been cut, in my opinion. You don’t know him from anything, but he’s Eddie Albert’s son, and you know him from “Green Acres.”
Noble Willingham has an uncredited role as a hick sheriff. You might remember him as “CD” from the long running Chuck Norris debacle, “Walker, Texas Ranger.” Noble Willingham quit his relatively successful acting career to run for public office, and got badly beaten, which I find funny.
Did you see that?
During a scene in which the Secret Service officers prepare their equipment for an upcoming presidential visit, an Israeli UZI submachine gun is briefly featured. I have to assume that this was a nod to the famous photo of a real Secret Service agent covering the crowd with a similar UZI during the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley Jr.. -Michael
Towards the beginning of the movie, there was a scene where Nick was talking to Shirley in her bedroom and a boom lowered into frame for a brief moment. -Sarah
What were Nick’s best parts?
Nick’s performance is solid throughout the film.
His best scene was probably the one in which Nick insists that Tess sit on the passenger side of the car, as opposed to her preferred driver’s side. It’s a clever scene, and it’s well-acted by all involved. -Michael.
I thought Nick’s best scene was when the president called him while he was out at a dinner to yell at him about Tess. He did a great job going through a range of emotions without saying a word. -Sarah
What were Nick’s worst parts?
There’s a scene late in the film in which Nick is interrogating a man in a hospital bed, threatens to shoot off the man’s toe, then does so. As you can probably imagine, Nick plays this with his typical erratic screaming and shouting. The scene works, but it would have been a better scene, in my opinion, if Nick had done exactly the same, but in the same professional, serious manner that the character had exhibited through the entire rest of the movie. It would have been more true to the character, and funnier. -Michael
I thought his worst scene was when he was angry at the driver for ditching her protection, as he asked another agent to have the driver meet him inside, he was way too over the top with his screaming. -Sarah
How was the movie?
This is a good movie. It’s funny and well-made. About my only complaints are the previously mentioned hospital scene, and the tiny subplot involving Tess’ son. That subplot adds nothing to the plot and introduces a completely unnecessary character. You could remove it from the film entirely and the only change would be a shorter runtime. -Michael
It was a great movie. Great actors, writing, and directing. -Sarah
Yeah, but did you like it?
I did like it. I’d seen it before and enjoyed it the first time, too. -Michael
I loved it! -Sarah
Where can I watch it?
You can rent it on Amazon Prime.
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