Porter was afflicted with cerebral palsy at birth. In this made-for-TV film, Porter (William Macy) explains its cause as the too assiduous application of forceps by the obstetrician who delivered him. As the film opens, Bill is attempting, at age 21, to land his first job as a salesman, the profession of his deceased father. Porter is encouraged and supported by his mother (Helen Mirren), who writes the words "patience" and "persistence" with ketchup on the outside of her son's brown-bag sandwiches after Watkins reluctantly hires the young man. To prove that he can do the job despite his disability, Porter has challenged Watson by offering to take the toughest sales route that nobody else wants. Soon after, Bill's mother begins to suffer the mental impairment that eventually lands her in an assisted care facility. Bill is now on his solitary own.

If it wasn't for Macy's performance, DOOR TO DOOR would just be another of those warm and fuzzy human interest stories that otherwise makes my eyeballs roll for its political correctness. Macy, who's cast in the lead too infrequently, turns in his best performance since FOCUS (2001) - perhaps better. The actor's depiction of Porter's handicap is a pointed reminder of the difficulties to be surmounted by one so afflicted, even including painful isolation from normal, male-female sexual intimacy and romance.

At the end of the film's credits, the audience is made aware of the fact that the real-life Bill Porter has a website. Out of curiosity, I signed onto it and discovered that it's actually a link to Watson's on-line shopping catalog. It left me wondering if I hadn't just been manipulated into watching a lengthy Watson promo. It's that vague feeling of having been conned that causes me to award 4 stars instead of the five otherwise due Macy's brilliant work.

A MUST WATCH (Rating: 4.00)
Review : A must watch movie for all ages. William H.Macey portraits Bill Porter who has C.P. It is about the trials and tribulations he endures every-day . All that he wanted was a sense of belonging. Through his perseverance and determination he gets a job with "Watkins House Hold Products" selling their products door to door. A truly inspirationl account of one man's courage.

Nice Uplifting Movie (Rating: 4.00)
Review : This film doesn't aspire to be much more than it is - a simple, well acted movie that follows a very determined man who has cerebal palsy through his life and career and shows how he snuck in touched others lives along the way. The movie is quiet and unfolds slowly. If you are patient, it will grow on you just as Bill Porter slowly grew on his customers. Touching and inpiring.

Excellent (Rating: 5.00)
Review : William Macy, like no other actor I think, can evoke such feelings of compassion. He is also plays a very likeable developmentally disabled person in this film. Bring a Kleenex box along when you view this movie. As a parent of a severely disabled autistic boy, I felt for the character who was limited in his coping skills but who tried and tried and tried to make his life meaningful and to help others through his job as a traveling salesman. Detractors may say Macy over acts, but I think his character makes a sterling point, that people can overcome their severe disabilities with perseverance and the constancy that evolves from the honesty of the human heart.

A+

Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"

Wonderful Movie (Rating: 5.00)
Review : Door To Door is about a salesman with cerebral palsy whose name is Bill Porter. Bill travels around door to door selling products for the Watkins Company. On the first day, most people say that they don't need anything. Then Bill sits down for lunch and sees that his mother wrote Patience and Persistence on his sandwich. He decides not to give up. That day he sells some products to a customer and they become friends. He becomes a wonderful salesman and makes many friends. In the middle near the end of the movie, his back is getting bad and so he needs to hire someone to help deliver packages. This is where a girl named Shelly comes in. Bill and Shelly become quick friends and are a wonderful team. You'll just have to watch the rest to find out what happens. This is an execellent movie; it has funny parts and touching parts. What's better is that this is based on a true story. I highly recommend this DVD. William Macy portrays Bill Porter wonderfully!

OSCAR MATERIAL!! A STELLAR CAST AND PERFORMANCE!! (Rating: 5.00)
Review : William H. Macy as Watkins salesman Bill Porter gives the performance of a lifetime in this drama that took me through a range of emotions in seconds. Kyra Sedgewick does an admirable job as Shelly, Porter's assistant and dear friend. Kathy Baker's role as his best customer, Gladys, was also quite moving. Helen Mirren plays Bill Porter's mother and deserves the highest praise for portraying a strong woman who gives never-ending encouragement to her son, proving that "patience and persistence" will overcome all things, including his cerebral palsey. All in all, this is one of the DON'T MISS movies of your life. This is a true story where each character was played with brilliance. Once you see it, you have to see it again and again. I paid a HIGH price for the VHS on eBay and have watched it six times thus far - I never tire of that warm fuzzy this movie provides. See it, Buy it, Share it, and visit ... to see the REAL Bill Porter and his story, which is also his Watkins website!