Norm MacDonald for Prime Minister!

Director Bob "Funniest Home Videos" Saget's Dirty Work embodies everything an SNL or MadTV skit would be if made into a full length theatrical release; a series of smaller skits that bind together a shallow plot and purpose with sarcastic madness and crude sex humor. It even stars two of MadTV and SNL's best, Artie Lang and Norm MacDonald respectively. Throw in a scene where Don Rickles is trampled by a freshly-diseased crowd of movie-goers, and you have one of the funniest films of the latter half of the nineties.

In typical skit-show fashion, Dirty Work is unbearably funny and at times crude beyond belief (well, it pales in comparison to the FGFs of today...). In fact, the laughter will never stop. In true succinct comedy film style, Dirty Work blazes through it's short eighty or so minute running time and never ceases to amaze in terms of hilarity. If you don't utter even a mild chuckle while viewing this film, I suggest you check your pulse.

Norm MacDonald and Artie Lang, the two main stars, are the requisite duo of grown up kids wasting away in a town where everyone/thing has it in for them. A vendetta against their oppressors combined with the need to procure fifty grand to keep Pops (Wagner) humming for a tad longer spawns Dirty Work: Revenge for Hire, a store with a very expensive logo and placement. Revenge for Hire, as the name indicates, is a business whose sole purpose is seeking out revenge for those too weak to exact it, but not too weak to feel the need for it. Though the implicity that revenge is sought out through violent means cannot be denied, the memorability; impact of Dirty Work's jokes shed a whole new light on the meaning. Perhaps revenge can be exacted through silliness, depravity, and comical vandalism? Is there really a need for violence when you can simply put popcorn in the engine of someones car? How much more psychological damage can you do to a caucasian crapper that just had Artie Lang experience a cherry-bomb enema on it?

If Seinfeld starred in a movie, I have little reason to doubt his performance would be similar, if not identical, to that of Norm MacDonald in DW. A laid-back smooth-talker (for lack of a better term), Norm is at the climax of every scene, and so are his brilliantly pulled-off comedic lines. It's hard to think of a better comeback to "I've had enough of you!" than "I know you're upset honey... hey, maybe you'll feel better after we have some dirty sex!". Norm's best role ever, hands down.

Artie Lang, though not as funny as Norm in the film, does a great job as the obese "Sam". I thought he was funnier in his MadTV days, though.

What would any good comedy be without a solid plot? It'd be Dirty Work, is what. The story is a very effortless concoction of "evil doer seeks to rule over the land, hero(s) must save the day" and "boy meets girl" that is only dressing on the salad, so to speak. Half the time you'll be laughing anyway, so most of plot is missed. It is not by any means terrible, just not very special either.

I hate to say it, but Dirty Work bombed. A paltry total of 20 M sealed it's fate as a comedy forever underappreciated. Yet it goes without saying that I highly recommend this film even after it's plunge into total obscurity - find it, watch it, love it. As usual, you'll thank me later.