Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 12, 1994 TAG: 9403120021
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By Mike Mayo CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That's an overstatement, but it's not far from the mark. The emphasis is on character, not action in this comedy drama.
Though director/co-writer Hugh Wilson's screen work has been in more raucous humor - "Police Academy," "Rustler's Rhapsody" - this film is closer in tone to his television credits - "WKRP in Cincinnati," "Frank's Place" and "The Famous Teddy Z." It's about about two strong, oddly matched characters.
Tess Carlisle (Shirley MacLaine) is a former First Lady who's not completely content in her Ohio retirement. Doug Chesnic (Nicolas Cage) is the Secret Service agent in charge of her protection. She's a strong-willed, imperious woman used to getting her way. He's a follow-the-rules kind of guy who longs for the excitement that other assignments offer.
After three years with Mrs. Carlisle, he's ready for something else, anything else. But, in her way, she likes him, and she still has influence in the White House. After some serious arm-twisting, Doug finds himself back in Ohio (actually Maryland). He's not happy about it, and the tension between them is what drives the story.
Doug and Tess are the feuding bosses of a dual household. She has her driver (Austin Pendleton) and nurse (Richard Griffiths); he has a staff of agents. All of them bow to Tess's wishes, but they have to follow Doug's rules.
When Tess wants to go for a ride, for example, she shall ride in the back seat behind the passenger, not behind the driver. That's the way it's done. Tess, on the other hand, is too set in her ways, too popular with the people and too politically savvy not to get what she wants when she really wants it.
The situation generates the kind of conflicts you don't often see in films. Tess and Doug almost never raise their voices to each other, but that doesn't mean that they're not emotional. They are, and the script takes its time in revealing just how deeply rooted and complex their relationship is.
In its weaker moments, the film threatens to become a TV sitcom, but that's intentional. Wilson manages to slip his story effortlessly through various moods from satire to drama and even suspense. He also paid attention to the details, making the house where much of the action takes place seem completely real.
Nicolas Cage and Shirely MacLaine create that same illusion of reality. Though both of them have been known to cut loose when given the chance, they're playing well-developed, restrained characters here and they make the most of them.
That's why "Guarding Tess" is so enjoyable.
Guarding Tess ***
A TriStar release playing at the Tanglewood Mall. 98 min. Rated PG-13 for some strong language, mild violence.
by CNB