Guarding Tess (1994)

Directed by Hugh Wilson. Starring Nicolas Cage, Shirley MacLaine, Austin Pendleton, James Rebhorn, Edward Albert, Richard Griffiths, Susan Blommaert, John Roselius, David Graf. [PG-13]

Long-suffering Secret Service agent Cage lives for the day that he gets out of his duty protecting the shrewish and demanding former First Lady (MacLaine), but she pulls a few strings to make sure his assignment is extended. Call it Guarding Miss Tess-y if you want, because that’s about as deep and original as it gets; disappointingly bland formula picture doesn’t generate enough goodwill from its star casting to overcome the listless pace and shortage of zingers. Cage and MacLaine should be a good averse pairing, but the film opens with the frictious relationship already established, and despite withering looks and pinched patience being in MacLaine’s wheelhouse, she seems bored, while Cage actually underplays his frustration. The scales of mediocrity are tipped in the final act toward the tiresome when it abruptly turns toward melodrama (even raising the stakes with some halfhearted elements of danger!) by which point the chance for redemption is fully vanquished. Director Wilson co-scripted, and provides the voice of the Clinton-esque president on phone calls.

41/100