Shirley MacLaine,
Nicolas Cage,
Austin Pendleton,
Edward Albert,
James Rebhorn
... see 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 ta... read more
Directed by: Hugh Wilson
Release Date: March 11, 1994
DVD Release Date: April 14, 1998
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Stats: 473 reviews
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Flixster Reviews (473)
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December 2, 2009Guarding Tess is such a Funny movie. A old lady driving a young man Nuts. lol
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April 21, 2008The performances by the two leads are perfect and certain situations are clever. But the third act ends on a ridiculous serious note that killed the film as a whole. And the music is way over the top.
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April 25, 2008It's remarkably like the Bodyguard except they don't fall in love...thank god.
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June 13, 2009Back when I liked a movie because Cage was in it. was also among first "older people' movies I'd seen. cant imagine it would be interesting another time around
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March 7, 2009Wonderful, low key tale told from a very different perspective. Great role for Shirley MacLaine (my idol!). (review to be fcontinued)
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February 25, 2009So I was looking for something shorter to watch and this one is right at an hour and a half. Not a Nick Cage fan but I do love Shirley MacLaine.
Started out a little slow. More irritating than not. Tess Carlisle was petulant and Doug Chesnick was spineless. Thought I would... read more -
December 26, 2008Store Manager: [to Doug] Does she want to be known today?
[Doug shakes his head]
Store Manager: [to customers and cashiers] Don't know her! Don't know her! Don't know her!
A great comedy that is full of laughs yet has some drama too. It does touch your heart. -
December 31, 2007This is a terrible "comedy" that no one should ever see. It's lame and not funny and I would rather stare at a wall for 90 minutes instead of watching this lousy excuse for a movie ever again.
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June 21, 2007It doesn't sound like much, just to look at the synopsis. Nicholas Cage plays a secret service agent in charge of guarding a former First Lady, Tess Carlisle (Shirley MacLaine), who would rather not be guarded. Cage would rather not be guarding her either, seeing this as somethi... read more
Critic Reviews
September 19, 2008
Leonard Klady, Variety
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Mr. Cage, once again sounding mock-suave and Elvisy, makes the most of his character's fragile cool. Full Review
January 1, 2000
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. Full Review
January 1, 2000
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. Full Review
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
There are a few good jokes, some solid chemistry between the leads, and a little pathos, but it all doesn't add up to very much. Full Review
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
MacLaine and Cage are really very good here. Full Review
July 12, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
We have seen it before: The movie throws together two individuals (Shirley Maclaine and Nicolas Cage) who could not have been more different and then shows us how they learn to respect each other. Full Review
September 19, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Competently executed and entertaining, chiefly due to the first-rate performances of stars Cage and MacLaine. Full Review
September 19, 2008
Film4
Straightforward but enjoyable comedy that sees Cage and MacLaine going at it hammer and tongs -- although not in that sense. Full Review
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out
Cage is on best behaviour here, but he's not an especially sympathetic performer. Full Review
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Guarding Tess
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