Welcome to Mooseport

Infobox_Film
name=Welcome to Mooseport

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imdb_id=0361925
writer=Doug Richardson (story)
Tom Schulman (screenplay)
producer=Michael Beugg
Steven Brown(line producer)
David Coatsworth
Rory Rosegarten
Doug Richardson
Moritz Borman (executive producer)
Marc Frydman
Tom Schulman
Basil Iwanyk (producer)
David Holden (associate producer)
starring=Gene Hackman
Ray Romano
Marcia Gay Harden
Maura Tierney
director=Donald Petrie
music=John Debney
cinematography=Victor Hammer
released=20 February 2004
runtime=131 min approx.
language=English
budget= $30 million
gross= US$14 million>

"Welcome to Mooseport" is a 2004 American comedy film directed by Donald Petrie and starring Ray Romano and Gene Hackman.

Plot

Hackman plays Monroe "Eagle" Cole, former President of the United States who, upon retiring, moves in to his home in the fictional city of Mooseport, Maine to escape the clutches of ex-wife Charlotte Cole (Christine Baranski). Romano plays Harold 'Handy' Harrison, the local plumber of Mooseport.

Following the death of the town mayor, the town council decides to approach former president Cole about running for the office. Cole agrees because, as it turns out, if he holds the office, his Mooseport house can serve as his office and, therefore, can no longer be divided up or sold off in his divorce settlement. Unbeknownst to Harrison, his name has also been entered into the race. When Harrison finds out Cole is running he decides to step down, that is until he notices an unwitting Cole make a pass at Harrison's girlfriend of six years, veterinarian Dr. Sally Mannis (Maura Tierney).

Tensions rise, following the arrival of ex-wife and Cole campaign spoiler Charlotte. Cole's team, lead by long-time executive secretary, and eventual love interest, Grace Sutherland (Marcia Gay Harden) and presidential aide Will Bullard (Fred Savage), bring in the big guns in the form of campaign strategist Bert Langdon (Rip Torn) to get Cole elected mayor. As the campaigns progress, Cole and Harrison each becomes obsessed with winning the race at all (comedic) costs.

Eventually, on the night before the election, both candidates (for different reasons, Cole is trying to get sympathy votes, Harrison to just end it all and get on with his life) urge the voters to vote for the other candidate by saying that neither of them will vote for themselves. Harrison fulfills his promise, but Cole votes for himself anyways. Upon the revelation that Cole won by one vote, his conscience gets the better of him and he concedes the match to Harrison. However, Harrison lies that he voted for himself as well, so Cole ends up as mayor once again.

Box Office Performance

"Welcome to Mooseport" is considered a box office disaster. The movie had a worldwide gross of just over $14 million on a budget of $30 million. To date it is also Hackman's last film, as he has not appeared in a movie since.

Cast

*Ray Romano as Harold 'Handy' Harrison
*Gene Hackman as Monroe 'Eagle' Cole
*Maura Tierney as Dr. Sally Mannis
*Marcia Gay Harden as Grace Sutherland
*Fred Savage as Will Bullard
*Rip Torn as Bert Langdon
*Christine Baranski as Charlotte Cole
*Wayne Robson as Morris Gutman
*Reagan Pasternak as Mandy Gutman
*Edward Herrmann as Avery Hightower

External links

*
* [http://www.moviehole.net/news/20040209_3153.html Ray Romano interview for Welcome To Mooseport]