Rating: 
Summary: like watching a blank wall
Review:
"Welcome to Mooseport" is, I'm sorry to say, indicative of what all too often passes for political satire in Hollywood these days - a bland, insubstantial, bloodless comedy which takes no risks or partisan stands whatsoever, and which wastes the talents of its cast - Gene Hackman, Ray Romano, Marcia Gay Harden, Rip Torn, Fred Savage, Maura Tierney, and Christine Baranski - at the same time. How an actor of Hackman's caliber, in particular, ended up in a movie like this is a true wonder to behold. Perhaps no major actor of a certain age can pass up the opportunity to play the President of the United States, no matter how wretched the movie.
The manufactured screenplay has the ex-President moving to a small town after his divorce has rendered him all but penniless. His first act is to run for mayor against a simple handyman (Romano) whose name happens to be - get this - "Handy" Harrison (wink wink, nudge nudge). Actually, that little joke turns out to be the high point of humor in the film, I kid you not. Complicating matters, the Prez also attempts to woo Handy's girlfriend of six years (Tierney), who's become sick and tired of waiting around for Handy to pop the question.
Even the worst of comedies routinely manage to provide at least a few mild laughs through the course of their running time. Not so "Welcome to Mooseport." It is a singularly unfunny film from first moment to last. I'm not even asking for anything resembling political relevance here; just the barest hint of comedy would suffice. The story and the script are so lame and uninteresting that watching this film becomes the equivalent of staring at a totally blank screen for nigh unto two hours. The experience is that painful and that boring. In fact, sitting through "Welcome to Mooseport" should be good for at least a few years off a sentence in purgatory for those in need of absolution.
Rating: 
Summary: Would have been a tame movie 49 years ago
Review: "Welcome to Mooseport" is an old-fashioned political satire. While it doesn't work very well as either satire or comedy, it's amicable and pleasant. Its faults lay in a script which isn't very clever and which assumes its target audience isn't politically savvy. It has neither the bite of "Wag the Dog" nor the wit of "Primary Colors". [Both of these movies are recommended.] Outgoing President of the United States, Monroe Cole [Hackman], relocates to his vacation home in Mooseport, ME. [He might have preferred his Baltimore home, but his ex-wife took it in a recent divorce settlement.] Soon after his arrival in Mooseport, he is asked to run for mayor. He accepts for political reasons, not knowing that a local plumber, Handy Harrison [Romano] will enter the race. After Cole unwittingly makes a play for Harrison's girlfriend, Sally [Tierney], the race becomes personal. The movie plods along. There is nothing original here. What's worse is that the humor is forced. Comic possibilities never pan out. The plot is impossibly middle of the road. It follows the coarse of least resistance, and the results are naturally tepid. Hackman and Romano play well off each other. The problem is that they don't have much to play with.
Rating:
Summary: not funny
Review: All I wanted was a bit of humor and a bit of Maine atmosphere. This movie had neither. It was dull, unfunny,and unbelievable. My daughter and I looked at each other after 45 minutes and just said, Kill it.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun movie that the family will enjoy.
Review: As a fan of the political world I thought the script and Hackman's performance were outstanding. The idea of the movie is believable and the supporting actors do a good job of adding humor to the plot. In a way this movie illustrates just how silly and excessive our national political campaigns---and the media's obsessive coverage of them---have become. Ray Romano's success lies in that he is a believable and likeable simpleton but that his horse sense is an easy match for the huge campaign team he faces. Plenty of laughs, and a powerful portrayel by Hackman.
Rating:
Summary: It's not the worst film ever, but...
Review: Being a fan of Everybody Loves Raymond and of Gene Hackman, I was looking forward to this movie. But when you find yourself thinking in a movie "this is stupid", you've wasted your money. I could not believe that Ray Romano and Maura Tierney were a couple. No chemestry. And, all I can say about the movie without revealing anything is that certain plot points were implausible. I can only suspend disbelief so far. The one exception to this movie is Marcia Gay Harden who is, as always, great. So if you simply have to see it, wait for the DVD. Otherwise, just wait until it plays on cable.
Rating:
Summary: Welcome to Mooseport (2004)
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Ugh.
Review: Don't waste your time or money on this movie. It is the worst movie I've seen in over a year, hands down(and I've seen Paycheck). It's boring and stupid beyond belief. I can't not believe so many fine actors was in the same film. Gene Hackman is fine as usual. Ray Romano is bland, I felt nothing for his character whatsoever. Marcia Gay Harden (sp) is fine and so is the rest of the cast. The plot, or lack of same, is absolutely horrific.
Rating:
Summary: "Mooseport" smells like moosecrap
Review: 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".
Rating: 
Summary: "HATED IT"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: For those for you are big fans of Ray Romano wil like it, and for those who are not big fans pLEASE SEE IT BARGAIN MATINEE or don't see it at all. a few laughs heaere and there nuthing much if your a fan Gene Hackman Rent Runaway Jury alot better then MoosePort. This movie was not worth anything hire than a three. "but you don't have to take my word for it"
Rating:
Summary: Mooseport is just to moosey
Review: Gene Hackman (Behind Enemy Lines, Target) is the former President and he comes to the town of Mooseport. There he is going to settle down and live a peaceful life until the towns people want him to run for Mayor and he agrees but soon jealously ensues and the towns handy man, Ray Romano (Tv's Everybody Loves Raymond, Ice Age), soon joins into the competition. Soon Hackman and Romano our at each other's throat, not really, but Hackman does go for Romano's girl, Maura Tierney (Tv's E.R., Insomnia). From there it's a race to see who wins. doesnt have all the juice for the squeeze. Very, very dissapointing. Hackman does his best as a political figure and Romano does his usually shtick. Also starring Rip Torn (Freddy Got Fingered, Senseless) (what comedy doesnt have Rip Torn in it), Fred Savage (Rules Of Attraction, Austin PowersGoldmember), Marcy Gay Harden (Mystic River), Christine Baranski (Bowfinger, Tv's Cybill), Edward Herrman (The Lost Boys, The Shaft) and Bruce The Moose. A lot of jokes hit and a lot of them miss. The naked jogging man was totally wrong. Best part is when Hackman and Romano are hittin the golf balls in the water and Romano tells Hackman "Think of the golfball as the former ex-first lady" and Hackman goes " that blood sucking vampire", he hits the ball hard and it breaks the sign in front of him. A washaway comedy with a tint of heart.
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