Guarding Tess

1994
PG-13
1h 36m

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

20K

YOUR RATING

Nicolas Cage and Shirley MacLaine in Guarding Tess (1994)

Home Video Trailer from Columbia Tristar

Play trailer0:31

1 Video

98 Photos

Comedy Drama

A former U.S. First Lady wants a particular Secret Service agent to head her bodyguard detail, even though he can't stand her.A former U.S. First Lady wants a particular Secret Service agent to head her bodyguard detail, even though he can't stand her.A former U.S. First Lady wants a particular Secret Service agent to head her bodyguard detail, even though he can't stand her.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

20K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 nominations

Videos1

Trailer 0:31

Guarding Tess

Photos98

+ 90

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Stars Shirley MacLaine and Nicolas Cage became great friends while filming due to their mutual love of animals and would go on to co-adopt many animals together, including a ferret named Whiskers and a Zebra named Mr. Zed.

Goofs
When Doug is delivery the breakfast tray to Tess in bed, the boom mic is briefly visible.

Quotes
Tess Carlisle: [implying Bob should called Doug, while in the canned goods aisle in the supermarket] It's got no price at all.
Bob Hutcherson: [over the radio] Yes ma'am. Uh, Doug, this is Bobby in canned goods, are you anywhere near the manager? I need a price check on Lesieur baby peas, repeat, Lesieur baby peas.
Doug Chesnic: Lesieur baby peas.
Store Manager: They're on special today, two for .59.
Doug Chesnic: [over the radio] They're on special today, two for .59.
Bob Hutcherson: [over the radio] Uh, copy that, it's two for .59.
Tess Carlisle: But I only want one.
Bob Hutcherson: Uh, roger that, Doug, but she only wants one.
Doug Chesnic: How much for just one?
Store Manager: The same. It's a two for one thing.
Doug Chesnic: [over the radio] Uh, Bobby, it's a two for one thing so I suggest you go ahead and get both.
Bob Hutcherson: [over the radio] Uh, copy that Doug but I believe we've lost in interest in peas, repeat, lost interest in peas. Canned goods out.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Angie/China Moon/Greedy/Sirens/The Chase (1994)

Soundtracks
Madamina Il Catologo e Questro
from Don Giovanni
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Giuseppe Taddei
with The Philharmonia Orchestra
Conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini
Courtesy of EMI Classics
Under license from CEMA Special Markets

User reviews78

Review

Featured review

8/10

fun film, good acting

Nicholas Cage is "Guarding Tess" in this 1994 film starring Shirley MacLaine, Austin Pendleton, Edward Albert, Richard Griffiths, and James Rebhorn. Shirley MacLaine is a much beloved ex-first lady who has Secret Service protection, and one of her protectees, Doug Chesnic (Cage) is thrilled when his round of duty is over. However, Tess makes a request of the president (her husband's vice president) to let Doug stay on a little longer. Annoyed, Doug starts standing up to her more, bringing on himself the wrath of the President of United States, who's sick of hearing from her. Doug and Tess finally start bonding - she in a way she could never do with her own son - and then something happens that threatens both of them in different ways.

I love Nicholas Cage in comedy - "Honeymoon in Vegas" comes to mind - and he has some hilarious moments in this as Tess and his situation become more aggravating to him. He does a terrific job. Shirley MacLaine is wonderful as Tess - feisty, annoying, vulnerable, and sad.

This is a very sweet and funny film and not at all cloying. It's a little contrived; however, the performances really make it a good rental.