When Comedy Refused to Behave
Dirty Work was released in 1998, and it was a punchline to a joke that audiences were not sure if they were allowed to laugh at. Norm Macdonald, a comedian, starred in the film that was directed by Bob Saget, the family-friendly host of Americas Funniest Home Videos, and was released. On the surface, it was a revenge comedy with the story of two underdogs who start a revenge-for-hire business. Everything else that Dirty Work is, however, is a relic of the time when the politically incorrect comedy was allowed to be messy, and mostly, unapologetically, human.
It’s the kind of film that gets dismissed by critics when it is first released, but gets embraced by fans later, whispered about in online forums, shared in college dorms, and then binged as a late-night nostalgia trip. To appreciate Dirty Work though, you first need to understand the unlikely team that created it, and the chaos surrounding the making of the film.
The Plot That Never Played It Safe
The story follows Mitch Weaver (Norm Macdonald) and Sam McKenna (Artie Lange), lifelong friends and perpetual screw-ups who stumble into the revenge business after trying to raise money for Sam’s dying father’s heart surgery. The catch: for a price, a customer can take revenge on those who wronged them, and it gets funny.
The duo’s tricks range from ridiculous to downright heartfelt, such as the destruction of a film set and the invasion of a palatial home with swimming fish. The story’s crude themes offer explorations of faithfulness, honor, and support for the underdog, all of which might have inspired Macdonald’s weird take on humor as well as his outlook on life.
The heart of Dirty Work lies in its contrasting humor and form, which offer a unique experience. The on-screen relationship of Sam and Mitch is obviously real, and it stems from the unscripted moments of on-screen magic that Macdonald and Lange shared.
Norm Macdonald: The Rebel with a Smile
In Dirty Work, Norm Macdonald was not merely acting; he was exposing his inner comic. The SNL star, renowned for his deadpan and bold humor, brought a piece of his raw, unrefined essence into the film.
At the time, he was fresh off a controversial exit from SNL after NBC executives grew uncomfortable with his unapologetic jokes about O.J. Simpson. For Norm, Dirty Work became more than a movie — it was a statement of independence, his chance to prove that comedy didn’t need to be polished to be powerful.
However, contrary to the calm, poker-faced persona he often projected, Norm was under a great deal of pressure. Unlike others, he had to deal with the cumulative frustrations of writing the film, conflict with the studio over creative issues, and the unforgiving criticism of the public. Nevertheless, and in the face of contrary expectations, he retained his unique quiescent disposition. While film critics characterized Norm’s performance in the role of Mitch, a man who transforms the unfortunate into the mischievous, as unflappable, they clearly missed the point about him, and about the film.
Years later, and in countless interviews, the same story about Norm would be recounted by Artie Lange, stating that Norm ‘never faked it for a laugh.’ The disarming presence and brutal truth of Norm was that, as a human being, he was in a category of his ow, silent, and tumultuous.
Artie Lange and the Power of Friendship.
Artie Lange, who during his time on Mad TV, earned a fresh opportunity in the Dirty Work film, which was to him a chance to blend his newly found comedy skills with a companionship. As Sam, the clumsy yet loyal sidekick, he brought about a perfect balance of pandemonium and tenderness to the film.
Lange frequently mentions how he and Norm developed a close bond during shooting, exchanging jokes, collaborating on creative concepts, and even navigating personal issues together. Lange recounts how Norm, enjoying a surrogate father role as he helped Artie, and surviving a difficult addiction, beautifully unfolded his passion. Lange and Norm, described as towering giants, then worked as equals on The Norm Show. Their collaboration, described as dormant, ridiculously self-objective, and creative, was built on a unique appreciation for each other, dark humor, and fearlessness.
The emotional core of Dirty Work was provided by this unique bond and collaboration.
Saget’s Vision for Dirty Work
Saget’s unexpected reputation stemmed from a career that began on children’s television. What was loved about him was his faux naivety and unbelievable sweetness, edited to center around Bob’s voice. While beloved for his family’s show, Saget was still able to find a dark side as a comedian. Dirty Work provided a way for him to take out this side as a director.
Saget described his work as walking a tightrope. His immense love for and appreciation of the talent, even the rawness, that Norm provided was juxtaposed with his disillusionment with producers. While ‘the producers’ expected Bob to achieve comedy from a ‘clean’ perspective, Bob was able to find this lost cinema. While every party was desiring something, the lost fusion made the dark side of comedy so raw and open.
Saget’s unorthodox approaches, such as allowing actors to improvise entire scenes and recording multiple endings, contributed to the film’s varying unpredictable energy. One of the most famous behind-the-scenes stories reveals that the studio pressured Saget to remove several jokes, and Sid and Norm were equally frustrated. Many of those missing moments became legendary and fandoms built around those moments even petitioned for an uncut version.
A Chaotic Set Full of Laughter
If one were to ask those involved with Dirty Work what the set environment was like, the response would be, “It was insane.” Norm, Artie, and Saget, to put it lightly, had a tendency that would likely be described as going off-script. For many people, the best moments in the film came from when those actors were just fooling around, which is a testament to their improvisational skill. One instance of improv that is famous to this day was Don Rickles’ sneering remarks as the movie theatre manager. Many of Rickles famous insults were created on the spot as instructed by the director. One famous instance that stands out is when Rickles was supposed to be angry and delivered a tirade to the point that the crew had to be silenced. Norm was so frustrated as the crew had to be quiet. He had to bite his lip just to get through the take. Even Chevy Chase, who appears as a shady doctor, was a wild card with his absurd improv. He added even more unpredictability with his scenes which was quite a surprise to an already unpredictable film.
Amid the disorder, the cast members were very fond of one another. Bob Saget described it as “the most fun I’ve ever had making something that nobody knew what to do with.”
The Hype, the Heartbreak, and the Cult Legacy
The release of Dirty Work was met with stiff competition as well as lukewarm and mixed critical responses. The critics focused largely on the humor and found it “too strange” and “too mean-spirited”. However, fans that had grown up with Norm’s gritty absurdism found something which the critics had unfortunately neglected – truth.
The box office performance of Dirty Work was less than stellar but the movie slowly became a cult favorite. The line “Revenge is best served dirty” became a faded, dry, absurd line. Like the Big Lebowski, Dirty Work found its audience through late-night cable reruns and was streamed and shared online.
With Norm Macdonald’s passing in 2021, fans revisited Dirty Work, still loved, as a testament to a comic genius at his most free and fearless.
The Film That Still Makes Mischief Matter
Dirty Work doesn’t feel like a typical film; it feels like a time capsule for 1990s comedies. Comedies were a lot more daring, mistakes more commonplace, and underlying sentiments were more openly expressed, albeit with a layer of insincerity. Dirty Work is disorganized, erratic, and printing like an unopened pack of cards, and That’s just in 90s part. Most importantly, it is about friendships: about defying and resisting, and about daring.
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