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No consensus yet.
All Critics (34) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (15) | DVD (2)
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. 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.
Leonard Klady
Cage is on best behaviour here, but he's not an especially sympathetic performer. Jun 24, 2006 | Full Review…
Cage is on best behaviour here, but he's not an especially sympathetic performer.
Derek Adams
Mr. Cage, once again sounding mock-suave and Elvisy, makes the most of his character's fragile cool. May 20, 2003
Mr. Cage, once again sounding mock-suave and Elvisy, makes the most of his character's fragile cool.
Janet Maslin
Like the role itself, Cage is clearly in service here to a fabled but fading star, and he seldom slips on that second banana. Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…
Like the role itself, Cage is clearly in service here to a fabled but fading star, and he seldom slips on that second banana.
Richard Harrington
What counts is the comic tension between MacLaine and Cage. It's so well done, it doesn't matter how dumb things get. Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…
What counts is the comic tension between MacLaine and Cage. It's so well done, it doesn't matter how dumb things get.
Desson Thomson
There are a few good jokes, some solid chemistry between the leads, and a little pathos, but it all doesn't add up to very much. Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
There are a few good jokes, some solid chemistry between the leads, and a little pathos, but it all doesn't add up to very much.
James Berardinelli
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. Jun 6, 2018 | Full Review…
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.
Malcolm Johnson
Too often Guarding Tess feels like a sketch towards a movie. Dec 7, 2017 | Full Review…
Too often Guarding Tess feels like a sketch towards a movie.
Quentin Curtis
We have seen it before: The movie throws together two individuals (Shirley Maclaine and Nicolas Cage) who could not have been more different and then shows us how they learn to respect each other. Jul 12, 2011 | Rating: C | Full Review…
We have seen it before: The movie throws together two individuals (Shirley Maclaine and Nicolas Cage) who could not have been more different and then shows us how they learn to respect each other.
Emanuel Levy
Competently executed and entertaining, chiefly due to the first-rate performances of stars Cage and MacLaine. Sep 19, 2008 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
Competently executed and entertaining, chiefly due to the first-rate performances of stars Cage and MacLaine.
Straightforward but enjoyable comedy that sees Cage and MacLaine going at it hammer and tongs -- although not in that sense. Sep 19, 2008 | Full Review…
Straightforward but enjoyable comedy that sees Cage and MacLaine going at it hammer and tongs -- although not in that sense.
Film4 Staff
A fun idea, blandly executed Mar 19, 2004 | Rating: 2/5
A fun idea, blandly executed
James Sanford
The premise of the movie (differing opinions between a headstrong political widow and her secret service agents) is good. But the movie struggles in the details - especially in last scenes of the movie.
Super Reviewer
Guarding Tess is such a Funny movie. A old lady driving a young man Nuts. lol
The performances by the two leads are perfect and certain situations are clever. But the third act ends on a ridiculous serious note that killed the film as a whole. And the music is way over the top.
Funny.
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