Tagline: This town isn’t small enough for the both of them.
Welcome to Mooseport movie storyline. Former President Monroe “Eagle” Cole (Hackman) is, after two very successful terms in office, looking forward to retiring to the sleepy vacation town of Mooseport where he plans to work on his golf handicap, write his memoirs, and entertain corporate offers. Apart from going through a divorce with the former first lady, Cole intends to enjoy a relaxed and prosperous retirement.
When the town fathers ask him to fill a mayoral seat that has recently become vacant, a position to which he’ll be acclaimed, Cole sees no reason not to accept. That is until Harold “Handy” Harrison (Romano), the popular owner of the local hardware store, decides to run against him. Cole, who has never lost an election in his entire political career, finds himself facing a potentially embarrassing defeat.
Fate ups the ante when he unknowingly makes a move on Harrison’s girlfriend, and the campaign becomes a race not just for the job, but for the girl. Not even Cole’s high popularity ratings and years of political experience have prepared him to take on “Plumber Power,” and what began as a sure thing quickly accelerates into a raucous campaign of clashing egos, misunderstandings and political conniving in the formerly benign and civilized environs of Mooseport.
The sleepy Maine community has all the accoutrements of idyllic small town life: a little park and gazebo, quaint architecture, a moose that wanders through the streets, and lots of friendly townsfolk, including the proprietor of the local hardware store, Handy Harrison (Ray Romano) and his veterinarian girlfriend Sally (Maura Tierney).
America’s favorite television comedy star ‘ Ray Romano ‘ and one of the most acclaimed actors in motion picture history ‘ Gene Hackman ‘ fight it out for love and small-town glory in Welcome to Mooseport. Renowned for his many dramatic performances in films such as ‘The French Connection’ and ‘Unforgiven,’ two-time Academy Award’ winner Gene Hackman has proven equally adept in comedies such as ‘The Birdcage’ and ‘Get Shorty.’ The laughs in Oscar’-winner Tom Schulman’s screenplay (based on a story by Doug Richardson) proved irresistible for the actor. ‘Comedy is hard, if not harder, than dramatic roles because comedy is not arbitrary,’ says Hackman. ‘It’s either funny or it isn’t. ‘Welcome to Mooseport is a flat-out comedy and that appealed to me.’
Hackman describes his character, President Monroe ‘Eagle’ Cole as ‘a comedic view of what we think of as politicians. He’s self-centered, arrogant and full of himself. He’s a typical politician, or at least how we imagine a typical politician to be. We’ve seen so many shots of Presidents in the news that I think we have a generalized sense of how a statesman should act. However, this character is not very statesman-like at times, and that, of course, is a lot of the fun in playing him.’
Director Donald Petrie, who helmed the comedies ‘Miss Congeniality’ and ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,’ says Hackman was perfect for the role. ‘You totally believe that Gene is the President of the United States,’ says Petrie. ‘He has the command and authority, and he can be intimidating. On the other hand, Gene has a sense of comedy that is unparalleled. He can take himself so seriously that it’s funny, and he can stretch that point of reality but still always be completely real and in the moment. There’s never a false moment, it’s never comedy for comedy’s sake. It’s the reality of the moment and that’s what he plays so wonderfully.’
Eagle’s opponent isn’t a seasoned political operative ‘ he’s friendly hardware store owner Harold ‘Handy’ Harrison. The role was a natural fit for Ray Romano, so beloved for his work on ‘Everybody Loves Raymond.’ ‘Ray was the standout first and only choice to play the role of Handy Harrision,’ states Petrie. ‘He’s very much a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of guy, not unlike his character, and that’s what makes him so perfect for this role ‘ he’s a likable, easy-going guy and it’s very easy for people to relate to him.’
Following his feature film debut as the voice of Manny in the animated box office smash ‘Ice Age,’ Romano was searching for a live-action follow-up. He didn’t want a carbon copy of his television alter ego, ‘Ray Barone,’ but he also didn’t want to stray too far from what he does best: comedy. ‘I didn’t want to play Ray,’ he says, ‘and I didn’t want to play a psycho killer either. I was looking for a project where I could do something a little different, but at the same time, wouldn’t shock the audience ‘ at least, not yet. The role of Handy Harrison was a comfortable fit.’
The differences between the film and television media made an impression on Romano. ‘When you do a television show you’re getting an immediate response from an audience, which you’re used to when you’re doing stand-up. When you’re doing a film, that immediate response isn’t there; you’ve got to find it in different ways. Whenever our director, Donald Petrie, liked something, he rubbed his hands together. So after a take I looked to see if he was rubbing his hands. And with Gene he’s always rubbing his hands. Me, once in a while he’d rub his hands. Donald’s a tough audience.’
Welcome to Mooseport (2004)
Directed by: Donald Petrie
Starring: Ray Romano, Gene Hackman, Marcia Gay Harden, Maura Tierney, Fred Savage, Rip Torn, Christine Baranski, June Squibb, Wayne Robson, John Rothman, David Macniven
Screenplay by: Tom Schulman
Production Design by: David Chapman
Cinematography by: Victor Hammer
Film Editing by: Debra Neil-Fisher
Costume Design by: Vicki Graef
Set Decoration by: Gordon Sim
Art Direction by: Michael Shocrylas
Music by: John Debney
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some brief sexual comments and nudity.
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: February 20, 2004
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