Customer Reviews

Dirty Work (1998) [VHS]

5 star:		(84)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

Looking for that crude, raunchy, extremely funny comedy to fill the void that is your life? Well, look no further, pard! While I missed this in the theaters (probably because it was so unmercifully panned), I was really pleased to find out my money wasn't wasted on purchasing this DVD.

Norm MacDonald stars as Mitch Weaver, a guy who just can't seem to find his calling in life. After losing yet another menial job, his girlfriend kicks him out, throwing all his stuff out of the apartment window into the street. Mitch goes to stay with his best friend Sam (Artie Lange) and we soon learn that Sam's dad, played by Jack Warden, has a bad heart and unless Sam can come up with $50,000 in a relatively short amount of time, his dad will die. Mitch agrees to help Sam, as not only is Sam his friend, but Sam's dad was like a father to Mitch while he was growing up, due to the fact that his real father wasn't around. After some hilarious attempts to raise cash, Mitch stumbles on an idea for a business by accident. Seems Mitch has a real flair for getting back at people who step on him, so he decides to open a revenge for hire business, Dirty Work, to help those who can't help themselves, for a fee, of course. The scene where they're hire to deal with a noisy neighbor had my friends and I rolling on the floor. The business isn't going well, until they get commissioned by Travis Cole (Christopher McDonald) to trash a property in order to condemn it, to which they'll get a large sum of money. Thing is, they do the work, but find out that Cole misrepresented his reasons for wanting the property condemned, and they soon find out they made a big mistake, and now Cole stiffs them on the payment. This sets up the ultimate revenge plan, leading to a great payoff.

Look for Chevy Chase, Don Rickles, and Gary Coleman in small but funny roles. Also in this movie is the late Chris Farley, who is about as funny as I've ever seen him. I was surprised to learn that this movie was directed by Bob Saget, you know, the guy from that Full House TV show? If you liked movies like Kingpin, Dumb and Dumber, or Happy Gilmore, then you'll get a kick out of this one.

DIRTY WORK sets out what it accomplishes and that is to entertain on an uncomplicated low denominator level. Norm MacDonald (Mitch) and Arte Lange (Sam)--(SNL meets MAD TV)-- are two losers who open up a revenge-for-hire business in order to raise money for Sam's Dad (Jack Warden) who needs a heart transplant. This sets up several gags as people hire these guys for various pranks most of which are hilarious (shaving the evil "Beared Lady" at a carnival sideshow hired by a jilted "little person"). This leads up to the main plot of an evil real estate developer Cole (Chris McDonald-HAPPY GILMORE) who hires the pranksters to do his 'dirty work' to have a building condemned. Realising, that they may hurt the very people they're trying to fight for, they must undo their destruction. Norm MacDonald's SNL persona is evident here as he uses some of his dead-pan, understated schtick he used during his tenure on the show especially when he did the Weekend Update segments (i.e. "Note to Self.." etc). This is helped by the casting of Arte Lange who had his moments on Mad-TV and is now one of Howard Stern's posse on Stern's syndicated radio show. Lastly, the movie has some funny cameos to help the plot along (John Goodman, Chevy Chase, Chris Farley, Gary Coleman and Adam Sandler and Don Rickles) along with love interest played by Traylor Howard (who seems to be on a failed TV pilot a few times during a televison season) as Kathy. Overall, sophomoric and low brow on a very hilarious level. Note: Classic line as Mitch and Sam are in a bar fight. Mitch (MacDonald) takes out his pocket recorder after getting beat up and say's "Note to self...Learn how to fight!"

norm macdonald has created a comedy classic with this film. ever since the first time i saw it, i've loved it, and it's still funny after the tenth time. i find myself using phrases and lines out of this movie so often in everyday conversation. also, you'll almost definitely pick up "note to self" and use it sporadically. there are so many great scenes, and the supporting part by the late chris farley only adds to the quality of the movie. must buy if you want to laugh

This movie is exactly the way every movie in the comedy genre should be. Dirty Work has enough of a plot to hold your interest, but the focus is on the actual comedy. The funny parts of the movie are truly funny, unlike most newer comedies. But don't be misled by the phrase "funny PARTS" every scene has some kind of joke in them, even the most serious parts of the movie will still keep you laughing!

The actual plot is also creative, which is something lacking in most comedies today, which all rip each other off. The main characters have to raise 50 grand in order to get their father on top of the list to get a heart transplant. After a few failed attempts at traditional work, they get the idea to open their own "Revenge for Hire" business. From there the movie is just laugh after laugh after laugh (and it is during that too).

Not only do you see Norm MacDonald and Chris Farley in this movie, but as an added bonus when watching this movie, you get cameo appearences from tons of other Saturday Night Live alumnus. Not to mention the attractive Traylor Howard (from ABC's "Two Guys and A Girl, her being the girl) who plays as Norm's female interest in the movie.

Overall, this movie is star-packed, original, and hilarious, and aren't those the qualities that make a truly good comedy?

Of course the term "Norm Macdonald classic" may seem like kind of an oxymoron, since he really hasn't been in enough films to necessitate the term "classic" for any of them, but the idea still remains. That is, if there is one and only one flick that can be defined as a Norm Macdonald classic, then Dirty Work is it.

We follow Norm Macdonald, and Artie Lang through various misadventures as they run their own "business" created especially for the purpose of "getting back at people." There are numerous humorous (rhyme intended) scenes throughout, as well as obscure cameos by several veteran comedic actors from SNL and other classic comedy shows. All the standard Norm Macdonald character cliches are there. Chevey Chase plays the misfit doctor who suffers from compulsive gambling habits. Jack Warden portrays the impotent old fart father of Artie Lang who also just happens to be the father of Norm, as well. Don Rickles makes a cameo appearance as a disgruntled movie theater manager, rattling off his trademark insults at his entire staff along the way. The renowned Christopher Mcdonald pulls off yet another one of his infamous scumbag roles as the tyrannical billionaire who exploits Norm Macdonald and Artie Lang's enterprise. Chris Farley also loans his talent as a degenerate barfly who lost half his nose to the teeth of a Saigon prostitute. And who could forget Adam Sandler's standout scene as Satin, opposite the often neglected, but always interesting Gary Coleman? This is just a handful of the numerous talents that work together to make Dirty Work great, but as is often the case, this film escaped the notice of the critics far and wide in most areas, and simply bred their contempt in others, but since when do Norm fans listen to the critics, anyway, am I right?

So, buy this DVD damn it, and give Norm your undying support. Lord knows, he needs it. He's had a rough couple of years.

Uncle Floyd

None of the three young stars of this film - Norm MacDonald, Artie Lange or Traylor Howard - ever became movie stars but they combined to make this a funny film, albeit what I call a lame-brain (somewhat low-class but effective humor) one.

This is not an untypical comedy of today: tons of sleazy jokes, sightgags, a lightweight romance story, a generally stupid story and a happy ending.....yet this one was far more appealing than most I've seen....and the more I watch it, the more I like it!

MacDonald is a very likable guy in the lead. He just has a friendly face and demeanor about him. He makes the film. Lange was a bit loud. I'm glad the film wasn't longer because Lange's constant shouting begins to become grating. As for Traylor, she acted well and was a pretty face. After watching this twice, I wondered why she never made it, but at least she has now found TV fame as the new partner of the hit TV series, "Monk."

Two veterans actors in here - Jack Warden and Chevy Chase - play irreverent sleazy roles, something they certainly have done before.....and do well. Warden is brutal as the ultimate dirty old man and Chase is as smug as always. Don Rickles makes a short appearances as his normal obnoxious character and John Goodman makes a cameo near the end.

The main story of this movie is a familiar one: revenge, but this time it is played strictly for laughs, and there are plenty. The movie shows revenge isn't just sweet, it can funny. What can you say? The movie is crude, it's sentimental, and it's a fun 82 minutes.

Dirty Work is a very funny movie that is along the lines of Dumb and Dumber or Saving Silverman. Mitch and Sam are childhood friends who have now grown up and don't know what to do with themselves. When Sam's father has a heart attack, the two friends must work together to get $50,000 for a new heart. However, everything they try fails miserably. Then, Mitch figures out what they can do, something they have always been good at. Get revenge on people. Soon, plenty of people are hiring them to get revenge on others which results in some of the funniest scenes in the movie, especially the "it smells like fish in here" bit. This is a hilarious movie with a great cast and far too many great lines to mention. For an enjoyable lowbrow humor movie, check out Dirty Work.

Norm Macdonald and Artie Lange are perfect together as childhood friends, Mitch and Sam. Macdonald's sarcasm is never better than it is here. Christopher McDonald as Travis Cole, the evil businessman trying to screw over Mitch and Sam. There are also very funny appearances by Chevy Chase, Jack Warden, Rebecca Romijn Stamos, Gary Coleman, Don Rickles, and in a hilarious role, Chris Farley. Also look out for John Goodman, Traylor Howard, and Adam Sandler. The DVD offers widescreen presentations, production notes, collectible booklet, and theatrical trailers. For a hilarious movie that will keep you laughing throughout, check out Dirty Work!

WOW! This movie was even funnier han Screwed! It took me a long time to find this movie for rent and let me tell you, IT WAS DEFINATELY WORTH THE WAIT! Norm is in top form throughout this entire movie! Norm's best movie (hands down), Chris Farley's (RIP) 2nd best movie (even though he had a small cameo), and 5th funniest movie of all time (after Montey Python and the Holey Grail, Happy Gilmore, Tommy Boy, and Mystery Science Theater 3000: the Movie). If you like Norm or Chris Farley, then you'll love Dirty Work!

If you like Saturday Night Live or Norm McDonald, you will love this movie. I think it is the best movie that Norm has been in. It is really funny. Throughtout the movie, Norm and his friend are trying to earn money for their dad. They play tricks on people for money, or they do other peoples' "drity work." It really made me laugh. It is Norm McDonald at his best.

Since every other review here is discussing the film, you obviously get the plot. However what is not mentioned is how good this film looks in HD Upscaling. It has bright colours and clothing (not unlike the latter Kevin Smith films) that look really sharp and has really nice clarity for a low budget comedy. So if you are looking for a decent comedy to show off your new HD home theatre system and truly want to see how good upscaling can look then I recommend this.

I watched Forrest Gump upscaled the next day and Dirty Work actually looked better in my opinion. Its not a better movie by any stretch of the imagination but it is a superior DVD transfer.