Reel Reviews: Dirty Work By: Jarrett Watkins

Dirty Work is the definitionof a niche film.It isatotalescapismfilmwith alotofmischievousbehavior anda plethora ofdumb jokes.Norm Macdonald wrote and starred in the movieand had Bob Saget as the director. This film is not going to be enjoyed by everyone because of its outlandish plotalongsidethe dryhumor, but for those who like the stand-up comedy of Macdonald and Saget this filmis great. 

A lot of comedy movies try to have some social commentarymixed in withjokes, butwith a cast likeNormMacdonald, Artie Lang, and Chevy Chase,Dirty Works relies only on jokes.When this movie came out it was torn apart by critics and if youdon’tjokes, it could be a bit dull, but thechild-likebehavior of Macdonald and Lang throughout the moviehad me giggling like I was back in elementary school.

The movie is aboutMitch, played byNorm Macdonald,andSam, played byArtie Lang,openinga revengefor hire businessin order topay for their father’s hearttransplant.Dr. Farthing, played by Chevy Chase, insiststhat hebepaid $50,000 to put their father at the top of the list. One of the funniest things in the movie is realizing thatDr. Farthing has a gambling addiction and themoneygiven to him by Macdonald and Lang will be used to pay off his bookie.Throughoutthefilm,as Macdonald and Lang earn money to pay Dr. Farthing, he shows upevery timewith a new injury from his bookie.

Dr.Farthing:I knowthere'sreally nobody to blame for this but myself, well, Idon'tknow,maybe theBuffalo Bills, the Boston Red Sox, or Mr. T or, or the Jets...

Mitch:Wait a minute,Mr.T.? Are you telling me that you bet on the fight in Rocky III, and that you bet against Rocky?

Thisexchangeis by far the funniest part of the movie when Norm’s character,Mitch,realizes what kindofdegeneratehe’sdealing with.Chevy Chase is at his best playing the doctor as the character takes a lot from all his roles with his physical comedy turned up a couple notches.

This film shows Norm Macdonald’s commitment to being himself. His comedyhasalways been about doing what he wants to do,whether he wanted the audience to love him or hate him, he always stayed true to himself.Even if it was early in his career,I’mglad Norm got to write and star in a movie.Norm’s career was hilarious, from getting fired from SaturdayNightLivefor making too many OJ Simpson jokes to writing an autobiography where nothingin itwas true. This movie is a perfectencapsulation of Norm with how him and his character,“don’t take crap from anyone.”

Grade: A, if youcan’ttellI’ma huge fanof Norm Macdonald, but I understand this movieisn’tfor everyone.