Movie Review: Door to Door (2002)

I accidentally found this movie one very recent sleepless night.  What a find!  As I was looking through the free movie offerings from my digital cable’s On Demand feature, I was torn between this movie and “The Island“; a Michael Caine movie about pirates (written by Peter Benchley) terrorizing the Caribbean in modern day, or as modern as 1980 could be.

How glad I am that I chose Door to Door!  This movie is the inspiring true story of door to door salesman, Bill Porter, played expertly by William H. Macy (Air Force One, Fargo), a master actor of our generation.  Mr. Porter suffers from cerebral palsey from birth, and the movie picks up in the late 50’s, where he is preparing to interview for his first (and only) job with the Watkins Company.  Because of his condition, he is initially turned down, but that doesn’t stop him.  That only makes him more determined; and that determination has not slowed, even to this day.  The underlying message is that any of us can do amazing things, if we have patience and persistence.

The movie was co-written by Macy, and the story covers the four decades in which Mr. Porter has been an active member of his community, selling his company’s products door to door.

In the current age where anything “salesy” is not just frowned upon and rejected wholesale, but truly brings out the worst in people, this story humanizes the role of a salesman, and shows just how and why someone would take on one of the most unwanted and unwelcomed jobs in today’s society.  Quite simply: To make a living.

The story of Bill Porter shows what a true salesman can do.  He is a member of his community, and people know him by name, and he knows each of his customers.  He asks about their children, and how things are going.  Porter is genuine, not slick-selling.  He’s seen children grow into adults, and adults move into new stages in their lives.  He’s seen families end and new ones begin.  All the while, he has provided a convenient service that his customers value, and he makes it easy for them to buy from him.  But most importantly, he has become a part of their lives and they have become part of his. That sort of connection doesn’t come easy in today’s cynical society.

I think this story also hits on a bit of nostalgia for me.  I grew up in the 70’s and the 80’s, and I remember the Shaklee guy who used to come to my grandmother’s home to sell shampoo or stain remover.  The thing is, in today’s age, we can’t go to the grocery store or the even the department store these days, and get stellar service like the door to door salesman is willing to provide.

The movie is smartly cast, with Helen Mirren (Prime Suspect, The Queen) playing Porter’s ailing mother.  Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer, Phenomenon) is totally cute and priceless as Porter’s assistant, Shelly.

A piece like this isn’t noted for it’s sound, or even it’s cinematography, it’s about the writing and how well it tells the story.  To me, the writing was solid, as it is a work of art that showcases the fortitude and persisistant spirit of a truly special human being.  If you have the means, rent this movie.  Rent it NOW.  It’s available on Netflix, and you might be able to catch it for free on Time Warner Cable’s free movies on demand. We definitely need more Bill Porters in the world.

Have you seen this movie?  What did you think?