Dirty Work 1998

In the heartland of America, two unlikely friends, Mitch Weaver and Sam McKenna, have honed their reputation as unapologetic rebels who refuse to back down from anyone or anything. This unwavering spirit was instilled in them by Pops McKenna (Jack Warden), their wise and wily patriarch, who taught them that taking a stand is not just about being tough, but also about being true to oneself.

As kids, Mitch and Sam were notorious for their bold moves, which often left authorities scratching their heads. Who could forget the time they had a bully arrested for planted gun possession or caught a crossing guard in the act of, ahem, “glue-related misconduct”? These early exploits set the tone for a lifelong pattern of mischief and mayhem.

As adults, Mitch (Norm MacDonald) and Sam (Artie Lange) have carried their rebellious nature into their early 30s. After a string of failed jobs and a broken heart, Mitch moves in with Sam and Pops, forming an unlikely trio that’s equal parts dysfunctional family and fraternity.

Their world is turned upside down when they’re ambushed by a group of rowdy college frat guys at their favorite watering hole. But instead of cowering in fear, Mitch and Sam take matters into their own hands, orchestrating a clever sting operation that leaves the frat boys facing the music with the police.

Just as things are looking up, Pops is rushed to the hospital, his heart failing and in need of a transplant. Enter Dr. Farthing (Chevy Chase), a slippery doc with a penchant for under-the-table transactions. Mitch and Sam must scramble to raise $50,000 within three weeks or risk losing their beloved patriarch.

Their solution? Take on any job that comes their way, from construction sites to brownie-tasting gigs. It’s only a matter of time before they land in the unlikeliest of places: a movie theater run by the infamous Mr. Hamilton (Don Rickles), a tyrant with a special hatred for Sam’s weight and Mitch’s wisecracking ways.

But even in the face of abuse, Mitch and Sam refuse to be cowed. They concoct a plan to show a packed house a film that will leave them speechless: “Men In Black (Who Like To Have Sex With Each Other),” a saucy sendup of gay porn films. The crowd erupts in applause, and the guys are hailed as heroes. Who knows? Maybe it’s time for Mitch and Sam to take their unique brand of chaos to the next level by opening up their own business.

In “Dirty Work”, two entrepreneurial friends, Mitch and Sam, launch a lucrative revenge-for-hire business, exacting sweet retribution for their clients until they cross paths with the ruthless Travis Cole (Christopher McDonald), a cunning local property developer. Initially, Cole manipulates them into demolishing an apartment building, promising a hefty payday to save Mitch’s beloved grandfather, Pops. However, he reneges on his promise, revealing that the building doesn’t belong to him - and worse still, it’s home to the grandmother of Mitch’s new love interest, Kathy (Traylor Howard). Unbeknownst to Cole, Mitch’s trusty tape recorder captures his incriminating confession.

As Mitch and Sam concoct a masterplan for revenge, they use the recording as bait to set a devious trap. With an arsenal of unconventional allies, including skunks, a squad of prostitutes, homeless men, a friend with a peculiar physical characteristic, and even Sam’s father, they orchestrate chaos at the opening night of an opera heavily sponsored by Cole. As the media descends upon the scene, Mitch plays back Cole’s incriminating confession over the theater’s sound system, leaving the developer seething as his reputation is tarnished.

Cole ultimately agrees to pay the $50,000 price tag for his downfall, but not before suffering a brutal punch to the gut, getting arrested and thrown in jail. The consequences of his actions extend to his poor dog, which becomes the unwitting victim of a skunk’s unwanted advances. Meanwhile, Mitch finds romance with Kathy, while Pops receives his life-saving heart transplant and gets a second chance at life. In a separate turn of events, Dr. Farthing manages to overcome his crippling gambling addiction only to meet an untimely demise at the hands of his enraged bookies.