‘Dirty Work’
In the wake of Norm Macdonald’s death, I’ve spent most of the last few days going through numerous YouTube clips of his best talk show moments, funniest SNL jokes, and Better Than Ezra material in an attempt to cope with the passing of this towering comedic figure. I also revisited Dirty Work for the first time in many, many years, and I honestly watched with mouth agape at how SHOCKING it seems when viewed through the cultural lens of 2021. The Bob Saget-directed movie, which was NOT well-received upon its release (and more or less abruptly stopped Macdonald’s film career in its tracks), now stands as a time capsule of boundary-pushing, late ’90s-style raunchy comedy — and something that would get everyone involved instantly canceled today. (For example, there’s a brief scene in which Norm’s character gets gang-raped in prison … and it’s played for laughs! “Ridiculous!”)
If you’re looking for plot details, here goes: Macdonald stars alongside Artie Lange as a pair of friends who start a “revenge for hire” business, but the plot really isn’t the point of this film. It’s a showcase for Macdonald’s very specific, very deadpan style of humor, something that only resonates with a very narrow demographic (and, to be quite blunt, will turn most everyone else off). That said, if you’re a member of said demographic, this is the kind of movie that will have you laughing so hard that you’ll start crying — which, take it from me, turns out to be a very cathartic way to process the death of a legend. Rest in Peace, Norm. (PS: “You got any gum?”)