Entertainment
Critics Hate Dark Comedy With Stand-Up Legend's Rare Leading Role, Stream And Judge For Yourself
By TeeJay Small
| Published
If you’re a fan of legendary comedian and Saturday Night Live alumnus Norm MacDonald, you’ve likely spent plenty of time keeled over laughing at his stand-up specials, late-night appearances, or his own short-lived Netflix talk show. What you may not realize, however, is that Norm once starred in a critically panned feature film, which is rife with his trademark blend of irreverent comedy, slow-burn humor, and sarcastic deadpan delivery. The film, 1998’s Dirty Work, is currently streaming on Freevee via Amazon Prime Video, for those interested in checking it out today.
Norm MacDonald In Dirty Work
For those who have not yet had the pleasure of catching Dirty Work on streaming, the film centers on a pair of hapless slackers named Mitch Weaver and Sam McKenna. What the duo lack in strength, smarts, good looks, and work ethic, they more than make up for in schemes, plots, and petty revenge fantasies.
This is demonstrated by a few instances of childhood hijinks that involve framing their bully for a crime to have him kicked out of school, and using themselves as live bait to have a sexual predator arrested and thrown in jail.
As adults, neither of the men are capable of holding a job, leaving them completely penniless, rudderless, and incapable of saving Sam’s father when his heart fails. In an effort to bank $50,000 to get Sam’s dad a heart transplant, the duo decides to launch “Dirty Work,” a revenge-for-hire business that utilizes their penchant for mischief at a steep price.
By the time Dirty Work builds to its shocking conclusion, Mitch and Sam manage to leverage their skills for some of the funniest gags you’ll see streaming today. This includes tanking a shady used car salesman by hiring hookers to play dead in the trunks of his vehicles, playing pornographic material in a normal movie theater, and smashing up an apartment to spite the landlord.
From Flop To Cult Status
Long before Dirty Work hit streaming, the film achieved cult status with fans of Norm MacDonald’s off-beat comedy, despite its abysmal critical response and status as a major box office bomb. As someone who grew up loving Norm MacDonald’s very specific and niche comedic delivery, I loved Dirty Work, though I can recognize why it might not be for everyone.
This is especially true while watching the film in 2024, as its low budget is quite evident, its forced PG-13 rating leaves the jokes neutered, and the repeated use of sexual assault as a punchline has definitely aged like a glass of milk under a heat lamp.
Streaming For Free
Norm MacDonald is joined in the cast by comedy legends such as Artie Lange, Christopher McDonald, Don Rickles, Chevy Chase, John Goodman, Gary Coleman, and David Koechner. Adam Sandler and Chris Farley also have uncredited cameo appearances in the movie, making it Farley’s final on-screen performance. Dirty Work serves as the feature film directorial debut of Bob Saget, who was a frequent collaborator with MacDonald both before and after the film’s production. Those interested in catching Dirty Work can find the film streaming on Freevee via Amazon Prime Video.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
