Just perfect...

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

A family friendly movie, that doesn't need crude humor to be funny.Ray Romano plays a likable but flawed character, which also describesmost of his cohorts, his love interest, and even his "nemesis" (Gene Hackman).The comedy never resorts to slapstick , the situations are adult, yet G-rated.Highly recommended.

Released in 2004, "Welcome to Mooseport" stars Gene Hackman as ex-president Munroe Cole, who moves to Mooseport, Maine, after his divorce and decides to run for mayor. Ray Romano plays the "Aw shucks" plumber who also decides to run for mayor. In between them is Ray's girlfriend, played by Maura Tierney. Also on hand are Marcia Gay Harden, Fred Savage and Rip Torn as Cole's faithful entourage and Christine Baranski as his gold-digging ex-wife.My wife and I found this to be a surprisingly good comedy/drama that spoofs presidential politics and small town-isms. Gene Hackman was 73 years old during filming and it was his final film to date. Even though the movie flopped at the box office, Hackman went out a winner because he shines in the role of ex-president. While Romano is equally effective as the ordinary guy, Gene takes the lead in a commanding performance. The movie is consistently amusing and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. The story keeps your interest and you'll find yourself caring for the characters and the outcome of the various subplots. The negative reviews are inexplicable because everything clicks here for a top-rate dramedy with a stellar cast.My lone criticism is that they coulda done more with the women. Aside from Tierney, cuties Jessica Holmes and Reagan Pasternak are featured, but they needed more screen time.The film runs 110 minutes and was shot in Ontario, Canada, typically towns within an hour drive of Toronto, like Port Perry.GRADE: A-

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.

If your looking for a film with joke after joke or gag after gag, this film is not it. This film is a story about what happens when a popular former President retires to his hometown and gets involved with the local residents, one of which is Ray Romano. It's a sweet story of character development and romance that might be a little off the beaten track. Gene Hackman is superb as always, and Ray Romano, is well...Ray. Christine Baranski provides an excellent portrayal of an ex First Lady. Quirky town folk and beautiful scenery add to the film. If you like plots with relationships and character development, you'll enjoy this film. If you need chase scenes and explosions, or gag after gag, you'll need to go elsewhere.