Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

Dirtylogy It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

seeingbystarlight Special Agent In Charge Doug Chesnic (Nicholas Cage), is very fond of his assignment guarding former First Lady Tess Carlisle...as long as it's over.The movie starts with Doug literally floating out of Tess's Ohio home after a hasty farewell to her, and her staff, and smiling all the way back to Washington. Then, in his boss's office, the bomb drops that Tess Carlisle has contacted the President of the United States, asking him to please send Doug back...he's indispensable to her guarding detail.Devastated, Doug tries to get out of it, only to be reminded that the President himself is asking him to do this..."What if I say no?" "I'm going to give you a minute to think about that." his boss replies.And 24 hours later, Doug is back in Ohio, taking breakfast up to Mrs. Carlisle, after just having ripped off the rosebud from the stem in her flower vase, as a way of showing his rage at his reinstatement.Later, after Mrs. Carlisle feels the urge to play a game of golf on a snow covered winter afternoon, Doug decides it's time to lay down the law.He informs Mrs. Carlisle that from now on, the Secret Service intends to do their job by the book which means, no caddying, no running errands, and no making snacks.He's still bragging about straightening Tess out, as he sits in a pub with his colleagues, when the waitress walks up announcing a phone call for Doug which turns out to be none other than...the President who informs Doug in a not-so-pleasant tone that he is to submit to everything Mrs. Carlisle wants.Chastened, with no other choice but to do his job, Doug bites the bullet.But when the former First Lady is kidnapped, Doug and his subordinates go on a desperate quest to find her, resulting in an unlikely filial bond between Doug Chesnic, and Mrs. Carlisle.This movie is a real diamond. Nicholas Cage, and Shirley McLaine are terrific in it, as is all the supporting cast.Hugh Wilson does a great job -not just with this film- but also as the voice actor for the President of the United States.Originally, Review #142Posted On: November, 19, 2011

HotToastyRag Everyone pays attention to former presidents, but what about former first ladies? Guarding Tess shows audiences what happens when the spouses leave the White House.Shirley MacLaine is a widowed former first lady, guarded for the rest of her life by the Secret Service. She gives her usual wonderfully gruff performance with touches of sensitivity and heart when it matters. She's just lovely. Nicolas Cage gives an equally brilliant performance as her main agent, frustrated by his boring assignment and Shirley's grouchy disposition.The two play off each other beautifully, and the audience is given an unusual but touching love-hate friendship to watch. Guarding Tess is a really fantastic movie, with great acting and a memorable theme, and it's really knowledgeable, too! Pretty much all the information I have about the Secret Service I learned from this movie.

vincentlynch-moonoi I know that when most movies start (or for that matter, most books), it takes time to "set things up". But honestly, this film is downright boring for almost the first half. After all, we all know where this film is going...at least generally; either there will be an assassination plot against her or a kidnapping, or some life-threatening event.Once we reach that point, then things get darned interesting. Although with more time for this part of the film, it could have been done much more nicely. The sentimentality was crucial to the film, but more time should have been given to the action; there could have been a better balance.Can I believe Nicholas Cage as a secret service agent? Yes. Can I believe Shirley MacLaine as a feisty First Lady? Yes. Both of these two main actors do very nicely here.The slightly creepy Austin Pendleton is so good here, as he almost always was. You kinda know he's a suspect, and he plays it perfectly. Edward Albert seems rather superfluous here.The other supporting actors all do well here, although none stand out.It's a decent film, but not outstanding. But Shirley MacLaine is a joy and a treasure.

bob the moo Doug Chesnic is a secret service agent who happily welcomes his final day guarding Tess Carlisle, the crotchety widow of a former US President. Doug returns to Washington having just about managed to deal with her even when she is at her most difficult – however he has no regrets when it becomes his time to rotate back onto active duty in another assignment. However it transpires that Mrs Carlisle has already called the President and requested that Doug be returned to work her protection duty permanently. Unable to say "no" to a Presidential request, Doug begrudgingly returns to a role that is more butler and nursemaid than it is protection.A very average little affair this film. At first it seems like an amiable if totally unremarkable comedy with the lead two actors bouncing off one another if an enjoyable enough way. This makes up the majority of the film and, although it is instantly forgettable, it is quite pleasing. Cage and MacLaine work it well enough in their respective characters and they have an uneasy chemistry that suits the material. However in the final third it suddenly all goes to pot.It was always going to have a dramatic ending of sorts and I think, given the protector/protected dynamic that it was predictable that Tess was going to be in some sort of peril that Doug needs to save her from. However the way it does it really sucks the life out of the film and the very light touch of the majority means that it can't cope with even a slight knock. Suddenly it becomes all melodramatic and soft, like it has just flopped down to the floor and lost what little spark it did have; it is a really disappointing way for the film to turn out. The support cast add vague interest with faces such as Pendleton, Griffiths and a few others but mostly there is nothing for them to work with.Overall then, an amiable enough film in the main but nothing that you will remember for very long. Sadly what you will remember is the way the final third plummets into mediocrity and melodrama, extinguishing any spark or enjoyment that it may have had in the first part.