Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Guarding Tess Blu-ray Movie Review

"Don't know her! Don't know her! Don't know her!"

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown December 16, 2023

In some sweet, chewy, nougaty center of 1990s cinema came a string of heartfelt presidential dramedies that, for whatever reason, captured my imagination, even though when most of 'em came out, I was a kid. Con-man comedy The Distinguished Gentleman (1992), the exceedingly optimistic The American President (1995), the snarky My Fellow Americans, manchild romp The Black Sheep (1996) and, my personal favorite, the utterly wholesome yet disarming Dave (1993), which I watch at least twice a year. (As my tastes darkened post-adolescence and my take on politics grew more cynical, I would also discover Bullworth, Dick, Election, Bob Roberts, and a little all-but-forgotten classic you'll thank me for recommending later, Barry Levinson and David Mamet's Wag the Dog.) But my goodness, how had I forgotten about Guarding Tess (1994) all these years later? The story of a young secret service agent and an elderly presidential widow who unearth their buried hearts of gold is a pure '90s delight. It doesn't soar its flag as high as The American President or earn its stars, stripes and hearts as masterfully as Dave, but it's still a lovely little unlikely duo dramedy that's worth a look.

"You should know I intend to do my job, by the book, which means we don't run errands, we don't make snacks and we don't check our guns at the door. If you don't like any of this, I suggest you call Washington and get a new man."

Doug Chesnic (Nicolas Cage) is a dedicated agent with the Secret Service Uniformed Division, assigned (much to his chagrin) to protect former first lady Tess Carlisle (Shirley MacLaine), a cranky widow who doesn't hesitate to speak her mind. Chesnic finds the job demeaning and a challenge because of Tess's high-maintenance personality and petty demands. He's desperate to get another assignment, but she insists that he remain head of her security detail, using her influence with the current president to get her way. When she's kidnapped, however, Chesnic's feelings change and he buckles down, realizing the respect and fondness he holds for the widowed first lady he didn't know was in him. Directed and co-written by Hugh Wilson ('Police Academy', 'The First Wives Club'), the film also stars James Rebhorn, Austin Pendleton, Edward Albert, Richard Griffiths, John Roselius, David Graf, Don Yesso, James Lally, Brant von Hoffman, Harry J. Lennix, Susan Blommaert, Dale Dye and James Handy.

Nostalgia is likely blinding me to Guarding Tess's lesser qualities. It's comedy is decidedly hit or miss, its jokes only land when Cage and MacLaine are alone together on screen, and it doesn't quite build enough organic reasons for Doug's shift from disgruntled guardian to best bud. Nor does it manage to balance the very distinct tonal differences between its early cantankerous misadventures, its looming-then-suddenly- executed kidnapping plot (which can be rather silly and predictable) and Doug's third-act race to save Tess (which deploys a far more serious race- against-time thriller personality). It makes for a wibbly-wobbly film and an even wibblier, wobblier comedy, or dramedy, or drama, or... what does Guarding Tess want to be again? It doesn't help that Cage sticks to a single lane: stoic, professional and largely unflappable. This isn't the fan-favorite Face/Off Cage of the '90s, and that lack of frayed edges and abyss-peeking lunacy is sorely missed. Would it make for a better movie if Cage was losing his composure? Probably not, but it'd be a blast. Instead the closest we get is his unerring drive to save Tess at all costs, no matter which colleagues or rules of order he tramples to save her.

With that out of the way, though, let's get back to our regularly scheduled nostalgia. There's just something about the sincerity of '90s political comedies that makes me miss the days when I had more hope in humanity, a deeper trust in politicians and a firm belief that, if we simply elect good people, good things will happen. Guarding Tess is only loosely political, but it still brings with it a golden warmth of political optimism; the thought that people will step up, no matter how selfish they may be, for the common good if just presented with the right opportunities. Yeah, the gags are cheesy and the jokes are easy. Again, I submit into evidence The Year 1994. But there's a wholesomeness, a faith, a strange sense of fate and rightness that looms over the story and characters. The rest of the Secret Service are bumbling nitwits. Another '90s trope. And the baddies are moustache twirling eeeevil, with a live burial plan that's only three degrees south of Bond-villain laser tabling. So what? Sarcasm, cynicism, nihilism and apathy are not traits to espouse or cling to. These are the things that need purged from the modern age. As long as we find quainter times quaint -- don't misunderstand, progress is and should always be the goal, no matter what angry cultural traditionalists have chanted over the centuries when surrounded by an adoring throng of supporters -- we will leave admirable qualities in our past and be lesser for it. I thoroughly enjoyed my return to the likes of Guarding Tess. It isn't great cinema, or a timeless film, or even the best of its '90s political comedy brethren. But there's still something here, and it works.

Guarding Tess Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Guarding Tess may not withstand the test of time but its 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation certainly does. I suspect Sony is working with a slightly dated master (telltale signs of one-generation-past artificial sharpening are visible in a few thankfully infrequent shots) but the results largely make for a very good, dare I say terrific transfer I didn't expect to find with a lesser catalog title. Colors are bold and vibrant. Skin tones are thoroughly lifelike, bordering on lovely. Primaries pop, black levels are rich, delineation is excellent, and the photography's faint but consistent veneer of grain is filmic, consistent and unobtrusive. Detail is top notch too. Edge definition is almost entirely crisp and clean -- minus a handful of minor edge halos here and there -- and fine textures are nicely resolved and revealing. I also didn't spot any instances of notable banding, artifacting or other anomalies. This is a refined and faithful presentation that for all intents and purposes makes the thirty-year-old comedy look brand new.

Guarding Tess Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Sony's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track isn't the surprise its video transfer may be -- it sounds decidedly stuck in a world of '90s sound design -- but I can't imagine anyone expecting something different than what we're given. Dialogue is intelligible and carefully prioritized, without anything in the way of lost lines (though ADR is quite apparent when it's utilized). The film is almost entirely a front-heavy, conversation-driven affair, until, that is, intrigue, kidnapping and a race against time suddenly switch on the low-end/rear speaker heat. Roaring helicopters, throaty car engines and shouts from agents swarming in from every direction make the third act a more engaging and immersive sonic experience than the bulk of the movie, but that's Guarding Tess. Uneven. Still, the front-heavy portions of the track do a fine job with banter and light, playful music scoring (which does frequent the rear speakers) and the more aggressive portions do an equally fine job with assertive directional effects, more noticeably whiplash pans and boomier LFE support. All told, I doubt Guarding Tess could sound much better without a fuller overhaul. And I'm not exactly sure why the film would ever require such a thing.

Guarding Tess Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sadly, there are no extras of significance to report.

Guarding Tess Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Love the warmth and world of 1990s family friendly political comedies? Then you're probably more than familiar with Guarding Tess. Or you've forgotten it, like me, until merely seeing Cage and MacLaine together sparked a dozen memories. Whatever the case, Sony's Blu-ray release is for you thanks to a striking video transfer and a solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. No special features here, I'm afraid. But so it goes.