'Mooseport' lacks zing

By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service

WELCOME TO MOOSEPORT (PG-13) Two Stars (Fair) A bland, uninspired exploration of a clever idea — that a former U.S. president (Gene Hackman) would retire to a small Maine village and run for mayor. Ray Romano plays the town handyman who runs against him, particularly because the ex-president flirts with his girlfriend (Maura Tierney). Donald Petrie directs. Fox, 111 minutes.

Gene Hackman stars as Monroe "Eagle" Cole, a Clinton-like ex-president who moves to his Maine resort home after his two terms are over. It's Mooseport, a classic small town right out of central casting.

Cole is convinced — unconvincingly — to serve as the town mayor, in part because he'll be able to run unopposed and won't be required to do much once elected.

All is well until he asks a local woman named Sally (Maura Tierney) on a dinner date. This riles Sally's long-time boyfriend, Handy Harrison (Ray Romano), the operator of the local hardware store. Jealousy spurs Handy to oppose Cole in the mayoral race.

It's a rich vein that Preston Sturges or Frank Capra — or even the Coen brothers — would have mined to gold, but director Donald Petrie and writer Tom Schulman find only brass.

"Welcome to Mooseport" plays out like the pilot for a new TV sitcom, sort of a cross between "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Ed," but with less humor or heart than either.

In his first feature (not counting the animated "Ice Age"), Ray Romano is particularly disappointing. The script offers almost no opportunities for laughs — you'll get more chuckles out of any random 15 minutes of "Everybody Loves Raymond" than from this entire film.

Hackman is a bit more successful; creating a character that truly seems presidential. His conniving on the golf course is among the film's few consistently funny moments.

The cast is large, but ill served by the uninspired script. Marcia Gay Harden is Cole's executive assistant, Fred Savage is his press spokesman, Rip Torn is a former campaign manager, and Christine Baranski is Cole's vindictive ex-wife. (Baranski seems especially typecast as the film's resident rhymes-with-witch.)

Most of the "Mooseport" residents are less impressive, and generally forced into small-town stereotypes. Only Tierney, as Handy's girlfriend, brings a hint of substance and is likable in her portrayal.

Rated PG-13, with profanity, comic nudity.