A naïve plumber and a popular ex-president of the United States run for mayor of a small town in a timely little comedy called Welcome to Mooseport. Ray Romano and Gene Hackman complement each other as these very different candidates who are also romantic rivals. Each man wants to impress the local veterinarian, played by fetching Maura Tierney, in order to win her respect and love.

Portraying a character reminiscent of those great Jimmy Stewart roles in movies like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Romano will probably fare better with viewers who aren't avid fans of his popular television sit-com, Everybody Loves Raymond.  My husband, for example, had trouble accepting the comedian as Handy, a man in love with someone other than Romano's TV wife (Patricia Heaton). "He's cheating on her," he complained. However, putting that television program out of my mind, I found Romano's performance both amusing and convincing. I believed in his character's fear of commitment, his unwillingness to take risks, and his dismay when his longtime girlfriend receives attention from a charismatic politician.

Nevertheless, it's old pro Hackman (Runaway Jury) who runs away with this film. He simply becomes Monroe "Eagle" Cole, the most popular ex-president of all time. Whether charming the local citizenry, shouting at his frightened underlings, or developing unscrupulous political strategy, Hackman's Cole is irresistible.

How does this sophisticated politician happen to be in Mooseport? Because he has nowhere else to go. His ex-wife (Christine Baranski) already took one of their homes in the divorce proceedings, leaving him with their less regal Mooseport summer house. Naturally, Cole's obedient staff came with him -- including overprotective body guards, a worried business manager (Fred Savage), an efficient personal assistant (Marcia Gay Harden), and a cynical political consultant (Rip Torn). Watching this group of professionals botch the running of a local election campaign provides the most fun here. "You've never run against an honest man before," Cole's assistant reminds him.  

Not everything works in Welcome to Mooseport. The bumbling town council members irritated me instead of making me laugh; the debate scenes were so corny I could almost smell butter melting on the cob; ex-president Cole's change of heart came too quickly; and Handy's realization of his own faults dawned too slowly. Fortunately, despite these faults, the film's overall appeal remains intact.  

With a real U.S. election right around the corner, I applaud this romantic comedy for offering moviegoers a humorous break from the serious campaigning all around us every day. 

(Released by 20th Century Fox and rated "PG-13" for some brief sexual content and nudity. Reviewed after a Sneak Preview showing on February 15, 2004.)