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.
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.