Guarding Tess

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Guarding Tess

PG-13

1994

1h 36m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

59%

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34 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Doug Chesnic (Nicolas Cage), an agent with the Secret Service Uniformed Division, is assigned to protect former first lady Tess Carlisle (Shirley MacLaine). Chesnic finds the job demeaning and a challenge because of Tess' 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.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Apr 19, 2024

3.5/4

There is an empathetic grace to Guarding Tess that’s timeless.

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Leonard Klady

Variety

Sep 19, 2008

The film is indeed likable. But director Hugh Wilson, who co-wrote the script with Peter Torokvei, just skims the surface of potentially rich territory.

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Derek Adams

Time Out

Jun 24, 2006

Cage is on best behaviour here, but he's not an especially sympathetic performer.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Aug 31, 2019

3/4

...an erratic yet rewarding star vehicle.

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Malcolm L. Johnson

Hartford Courant

Jun 6, 2018

Maclaine's performance as Tess Carlisle, which shifts from polite witchiness to lonely, mildly boozy poignancy, adds up to the only real reason to see this potentially funny and revealing, but actually rather humdrum duodrama.

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Quentin Curtis

Independent on Sunday

Dec 8, 2017

Too often Guarding Tess feels like a sketch towards a movie.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 20, 2026

This Movie = a *3* star movie!

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Landon J

@Minxsykitty Aug 2, 2026

Kinda like the cross between a chicken wing and "In The Line of Fire" and "All of me". Likes it bc Cage, didn't like it because the clunky ah resolution.

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Matt L

@Mattliptak Feb 6, 2026

Guarding Tess is a light, charming diversion—ultimately a pretty pointless movie, but an entertaining one. Shirley MacLaine is terrific and clearly having fun, delivering one of her more endearing late-career performances. The chemistry between her and Nicolas Cage is the real hook—easy, playful, and genuinely warm, carrying the film even when the plot meanders. No great stakes, no lasting impact—but as a cozy, character-driven watch, it works just fine. A pleasant, low-effort movie that knows exactly what it is.

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Beatriz M.

@Betbib Jan 29, 2026

Great movie from the 90’s. Timeless. Very entertaining and funny

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Al K

@AlK01 Nov 17, 2025

Yes, I’ve the read Rotten reviews. They are, I must admit, pretty rotten. Regardless, I find Guarding Tess as a breath of fresh air among barely-there five star reviews. I believe, as a somewhat romantic, that this could someday happen, under similarly extenuating circumstances stances. My favorite line in the movie? "And Tess, get in the Goddamn chair!"

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 14, 2025

Funny in 1 hour and 36 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $26,200,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Hugh Wilson

Director

Shirley MacLaine

Tess Carlisle

Nicolas Cage

Doug Chesnic

Austin Pendleton

Earl Fowler

Edward Albert

Barry Carlisle

James Rebhorn

Howard Schaeffer

Guarding Tess: Official Clip - Shirley MacLaine Makes Her Getaway

1:07

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Guarding Tess: Official Clip - Get In The God Damn Wheelchair

1:36

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Guarding Tess: Official Clip - LOL! Nicolas Cage Embarrasses Shirley MacLaine

2:46

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Guarding Tess: Official Clip - Am I Secret Service or A Caddy?

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Guarding Tess: Official Clip - Battle of the Stubborn A-holes

1:37

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Guarding Tess: Official Clip - Holy Sh*t! They BURIED HER ALIVE!

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Guarding Tess: Official Clip - HAHAHA! The President Yells at Nicolas Cage!

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Guarding Tess: Official Clip - Nicolas Cage Goes BALLISTIC and Shoots A Toe Off!

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Guarding Tess: Official Clip - How The First Lady Goes Grocery Shopping

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Guarding Tess: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Doug Chesnic (Nicolas Cage), an agent with the Secret Service Uniformed Division, is assigned to protect former first lady Tess Carlisle (Shirley MacLaine). Chesnic finds the job demeaning and a challenge because of Tess' 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.

Director: Hugh Wilson
Producer: Nancy Graham Tanen, Ned Tanen
Screenwriter: Hugh Wilson, PJ Torokvei
Production Co: TriStar Pictures, Channel Films
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.2M
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Surround

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