Welcome To Mooseport film review

certificate_PG

WELCOME TO MOOSEPORT

"I had dignity once. Does anybody remember that?" reflects ex-US President Monroe Cole (Gene Hackman) as he becomes embroiled in a rancorous election fight for the mayoral vacancy of the sleepy Maine town of Mooseport. There were times throughout this lame comedy when Hackman must have felt Cole's words could equally be applied to him. It's hardly the first time Hackman has appeared in lightweight fare (Heartbreakers anyone?), but it's hard to see exactly what there was about Doug Richardson and Tom Schulman's lackluster script that enticed him.

Even though US Presidents do a good job of making fools of themselves, it still doesn't prevent others having a go. Here Cole is portrayed as a blustery egocentric less concerned with social issues than his bank balance and popularity rating. Dumped by his wife of 25 years (Christine Baranski) and the US voters, Cole has vacated the White House for his summer home in Mooseport.

His proposed retirement from public office is short lived though, following the invitation to become mayor. He accepts in the hope of endearing himself to the pretty Sally (Maura Tierney), only to find himself embroiled in a PR nightmare. It turns out Sally is the long time girlfriend of Handy Harrison (Ray Romano), the only other candidate in the mayoral race, with the result both men find themselves competing for public office and the girl.

Ray Romano's lugubrious manner is amusing enough in his successful TV series, but is less effective on the big screen. He imbues the lifeless Harrison with little to become invested in. It's no wonder Sally is frustrated with him after six years and no sign of commitment and explains why she's receptive to the attentions of the slimy Cole, if only to invoke some jealousy.

Steered with glacial haste by director Donald Petrie (How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days), Welcome To Mooseport ambles harmlessly towards its uninspired conclusion, involving Cole and his loyal assistant Grace Sutherland, played with an uptight vulnerability by Marcia Gay Harden who, along with Baranski, provides some of the film's few highlights.

Too whimsical to offer anything biting, the film's tone and pace reflect the quaint, charming setting, while the characters are a mix of the broad and the bland. Mooseport may well offer a heartfelt welcome, but it provides few reasons to stay.