Welcome to Mooseport (2004)

A US president who has retired after two terms in office returns to his hometown of Mooseport, Maine and decides to run for Mayor against another local candidate.

Director:

Donald Petrie

Writers:

Doug Richardson (story), Tom Schulman (screenplay)

Stars:

Gene Hackman, Ray Romano, Maura Tierney

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gene Hackman	...	Monroe Cole
Ray Romano	...	Handy Harrison
Marcia Gay Harden	...	Grace Sutherland
Maura Tierney	...	Sally Mannis
Christine Baranski	...	Charlotte Cole
Fred Savage	...	Bullard
Rip Torn	...	Bert Langdon
June Squibb	...	Irma
Wayne Robson	...	Morris Gutman
John Rothman	...	Stu
Karl Pruner	...	Dyer
David Macniven	...	Cloud
Jackie Richardson	...	Martha
Paul Bates	...	Bob
Reagan Pasternak	...	Mandy

Storyline

Monroe "Eagle" Cole is a former U.S. President ready to settle into a quaint little town named Mooseport. He's ready to take in the lion's share of endorsement deals and speaking engagements while developing his own presidential library. Meanwhile, Handy Harrison is a local hardware store owner with a girlfriend ready to throw in the towel on their relationship. Just as Monroe is offered the local mayor's position, he's found an unlikely opponent in Handy. But ultimately, both men have a lot to lose when the stakes are raised and a simple competition turns into an all out war.

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Plot Keywords:

mayor | small town | underwear | political campaign | upskirt | 

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Taglines:

This town isn't small enough for the both of them.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some brief sexual comments and nudity

Details

Official Sites:

20th Century Fox [United States]

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 February 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mooseport

Filming Locations:

Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$26,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,775,132, 22 February 2004, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$14,469,428, 9 May 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Intermedia Films, Mediastream Vierte Film GmbH & Co. Vermarktungs KG

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Dr. Sally Mannis (Maura Tierney) is being hounded by reporters for the first time about her involvement with the former American President, and one of them asks, "Have you guys had sex yet?", that guy is actor Jon Manfrellotti, a personal friend of Ray Romano, and a stand-up comedian who used to open for him.

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Goofs

Chi Chi Rodriguez puts the head cover on the driver. The very next shot the head cover is off.

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Quotes

Monroe Cole: [Monroe regarding a telephone talk with his embittered and greedy ex-wife who is demanding more of his fortune] Seven million!
Grace Sutherland: It's a negotiation.
Grace Sutherland: You've handled dictators. You've handled terrorists.
Monroe Cole: Terrorists were easier, I swear to God!

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Connections

References My Fellow Americans (1996)

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Soundtracks

Small Town
Written and Performed by John Mellencamp
Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

The President And The Plumber

President Gene Hackman after two terms in office has now retired to his summer home in Mooseport, Maine. He's planning to do what most former US presidents do, write memoirs, give lectures for exorbitant fees, and say wise things that elder statesmen do. But the city fathers of Mooseport have an intriguing idea, they want to make him their new mayor because the old one has just died.

Hackman also has an additional problem, the first lady is divorcing him and she's taking him to the cleaners in a settlement. Becoming mayor could be a way of saving the Mooseport summer house by claiming it's now his primary residence. But his womanizing ways could prove a stumbling block to Hackman because plumber Ray Romano does not like the way Hackman is hitting on his girlfriend. He also files and the race is on.

If Welcome To Mooseport turns out to be the last film of Gene Hackman, I would think he'd have rather gone out on something a lot better. Not that it's a bad film, it does have some funny moments, but it's nothing special. Another film about former presidents, My Fellow Americans, is a lot better.

Romano proves that everyone still loves Raymond as he essentially takes his TV character from his hit show and transfers it from North Queens to the northern piny woods of Maine. This is Hackman's third portrayal of a US president and it's not as good as the far more serious Absolute Power.

Their are three substantial women's roles, Marcia Gay Harden as the presidential chief of staff who really does love the first man despite his errant ways. The second is Maura Tierney who is a veterinarian who is going out with Romano and who Hackman takes a liking to. Finally and best of all, in fact best in the film is Christine Baranski as the First Lady from hell. Imagine Hillary if she wanted to make Bill's life hell after the White House and you've got Baranski.

When the Mooseport election gets serious Hackman hires major political consultant Rip Torn who is best among the male players. I cannot forget Fred Savage, the young man from The Wonder Years now all grown up and playing your typical boot-licking aide.

A lot of the gags don't quite rise to the occasion, was it really necessary to have a moose named Bruce to get a chuckle? And I think someone like Frank Capra directing this might have given Welcome To Mooseport the populist touch it needed to really make it a classic.

It's not a bad film, but I do hope Gene Hackman gives us a better valedictory for his career.