Dirty Work (1998)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Bob Saget

Writers (WGA):

Frank Sebastiano (written by) &
Norm MacDonald (written by) ...

Release Date:

12 June 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Revenge is a dish best served DIRTY.

Plot:

A loser finds success in the revenge-for-hire business.

Plot Keywords:

Job | Revenge | Hallucinogen | Bar Fight | Bully

Cast

Norm MacDonald	...	Mitch Weaver
Artie Lange	...	Sam McKenna
Jack Warden	...	'Pops' McKenna
Traylor Howard	...	Kathy
Don Rickles	...	Mr. Hamilton
Christopher McDonald	...	Travis Cole
Chevy Chase	...	Dr. Farthing
Bradley Reid	...	Mitch (at 8 Years Old)
Matt Steinberg	...	Mitch (at 16 Years Old)
Joseph Sicilia	...	Sam (at 8 Years Old)
Austin Pool	...	Sam - at 16 Years Old (as Austin John Pool)
Gerry Mendicino	...	Manetti
A. Frank Ruffo	...	Aldo
Hrant Alianak	...	John Kirkpatrick
Michael Vollans	...	Derek (at 10 Years Old)

Also Known As:

Sale boulot (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude sexual humor and language.

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #35570) | Iceland:L | UK:12 | Singapore:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Netherlands:12 (video premiere)

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

In the scene where Mitch and Sam are getting berated by Mr. Hamilton, Don Rickles started ad-libbing insults. At one point, Don Rickles started insulting Norm McDonald and not his Mitch Weaver character. This, of course, didn't make it into the film but the "baby gorilla" line directed towards Artie Lange was used.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Mitch and Sam leave jail and Mitch addresses his cell mates, his lips can clearly be seen to say "anal rape," but this is overdubbed with the words "the other thing."

Quotes:

[first lines]
Derek: Hand over the milk money, Weaver.
Mitch: I'm afraid I can't do that, Derek. I'm just not sure you'll spend it on milk.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bob Saget: That Ain't Right (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Semi-Charmed Life

A movie that allows non-stop comedy....Norm scores big...

Now when Saget made this film, he wasn't intending on creating an Oscar worthy performance from MacDonald or any of the other funny character ensemble. Whoever it was who would give this film a 4/10 star rating obviously is a one-sided dropout who doesn't realize the true meaning and genius in this movie. It was created for one reason and one reason only. To be funny. And by god it was. The great Chris Farley was only able to make but a few entrances but each time he was on screen, he nailed his part and brought more to the screen than what was on the paper. It is a shame a man of his magnitude was never able to show the world around us everything he was capable of. As for Chevy Chase, some may say his part showed up a little bit dry. Which it did, but this was not because of a poor script. This simply is because Chevy Chase's style of humor is that more of the early to late 70's. His performance overall was pretty good and I personally enjoyed it but the fact is he was unable to creatively fulfill himself in this film. The poor acting is made up for by having a non-stop comedy story board. This film ceases to have a dull moment and this largely can be credited to Norm MacDonald and his very unique style of comedy. Norm has always been a different kind of comedian who has different views on what he believes is funny. In this film, he is successfully able to transfer his hysterical notions to the lucky viewers of this film.