Review(s): DVD Welcome To Mooseport (Full Screen Edition)
Welcome to Mooseport (2004)
Director: Donald Petrie Cast: Gene Hackman, Ray Romano, Marcia Gay Harden, Maura Tierney, Christine Baranski, Fred Savage, Rip Torn. Running Time: 115 minutes. Rated PG-13 for some language and gross elderly nudity (just an old man's behind).
"Welcome to Mooseport" has enough charm and some quirky moments to make those who are fans of Ray Romano's "Everybody Loves Raymond" television show giggle somewhat, but ultimately it is caught trying to be a comedy that does not have much scripted humor and relies too much on Romano to get laughs just because of his fame. Gene Hackman is well-casted as Monroe "Eagle" Cole, one of the most famed former Presidents of the United States of America, who has moved to the small Maine town of Mooseport due to a sloppy divorce that left him without his Baltimore home. Ray Romano stars as Handy Harrison (who happens to be a handy man-go figure), a goofball that knows the ins-and-outs of the town, but does not know when to commit to his long-time girlfriend Sally (Maura Tierney).
When Mooseport's mayor suddenly passes away, "Eagle" Cole is asked to take on the assignment. He accepts, but only because of the good public press he would receive. Handy Harrison names himself a candidate as well when Cole asks Sally out for a date, leading both men into a sequence of idiosyncratic campaign stunts that involve televised mayoral debates (?) and golf matches to win over women. "Welcome to Mooseport" is a film that is enjoyable for younger teenagers and adults that grew up watching Hackman during his prime, but ultimately it is an unfunny attempt to draw on the success of "Everybody Loves Raymond". Romano is actually the weaker of the two lead stars, either because he was not given the ability to shine in a somewhat limited role, or because in reality his television show is a triumph because of his overwhelmingly talented supporting cast in the first place. An average film and that is being generous.
A Wonderfully Entertaining Film
Hackman is perfect in the role of a newly retired (and divorced) President taking on the job of a small town mayor only to come up against the stereotypical small town honesty (with plenty of naivete thrown in) Romano in full blown "Everybody Loves Raymond" character. Romano has a cherry script as the local plumber who has never done anything negative ever....but just can't seem to make a commitment to his veterinary girlfriend - who should be finaniace....and therein lies the depth of the script.
Don't be surprised at the horror, terror, violence fans who don't like this one....this is about good and honest things that some of us actually still believe in. Hackman, Romano, and Tierney all do a great job of providing a really really nice story with a strong dose of decency.....nice to see one like this coming out of Hollywood for a change.
"Mooseport" smells like moosecrap
First off my wife wanted to see this movie,Im a horror fan but once in a while we have to see something she wants to see so that's why I saw this stinko bomb.Gene Hackman plays the ex-president (yes ,of the USA)who moves to a small town and battles Ray Romano,who is the local handyman,for his girl and the mayors office. Now I love Gene Hackman but the man never saw a script he didnt like.Im not sure what he was thinking about when he made this slow ,yawningly boring mess,except maybe the money.And Ray Romano basically plays his Ray Barone character from his "Raymond" show ,you know ,the good natured, if not terribly bright average Joe.That works for 22 minutes in a sit-com but a bunch of witty one-liners does not a movie make.Romano appears lost and Hackman looks like he rather be anyplace else except in front of the camera in this lousy contraption. The writing is terrible and the actors appear like they are sleepwalking most of the time .Avoid this mess like you would a Pauly Shore movie. Wait a minute.....hell Ive seen Pauly Shore movies that were better than "Mooseport".
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