bigverybadtom This was Gene Hackman's last movie role, and Ray Romano's first time on the big screen. Romano was good enough on television with "Everybody Loves Raymond", but he seemed at sea in this movie. Not that the story was anything to write home about.The story involves a just-retired two-term President who travels to the title small town when the current mayor dies in office. The President is divorcing his wife, and has a vacation home in the town which he wants to keep, so he runs for mayor in the special election. Meanwhile, the local hardware store owner played by Romano has his girlfriend ready to leave him, so he runs for mayor to impress her.This movie is not really about politics so much as a romantic comedy. It is at best mildly amusing, and if you want to be amused by Ray Romano, stick to reruns of the "Everybody Loves Raymond" show instead.

Wuchak 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-

Paul Willekens This is a movie that makes you happy. It is light to digest, it gives a nice aftertaste, it is never too sour nor too bitter and it makes you laugh. Good old Gene Hackman acts at his best, being 30 years younger than his real age. And two nice, mature ladies shine in Mooseport: the president's secretary, good looking and ready for love, and the local taken-for-granted pretty girlfriend, who wants that rock on her finger so badly. The absence of bad language and gratuit violence makes a difference with so many modern comedies, where children capture a way of talking (and a life attitude) they would better avoid. None of that in Mooseport.

dhurst-2 There isn't a bad Gene Hackman movie filmed and this one was great. All of the acting was great and I think Ray Ramano was great also. I've never watched his sitcom but I might now. I don't remember the actress's name who played the wife but she always makes such a good snob. I thought the "panty" scene was hilarious. It was pretty obvious early in the movie that his female aid was in love with him. I must have missed something at the beginning because I don't know why he disliked the male aid that he would have get out of his eye sight. I'm going to have to plagiarize and use that one when my boss gets on my nerves. That is quite often. Anyway, I'm betting no one could name one movie that Gene Hackman has ever been in that wasn't good even if the actors around him were lousy. He can pull of drama, humor or thriller; you name it, Gene Hackman can do it. that is my story and I'm sticking to it.