Door to Door (2002 TV Movie) User Reviews

A very good TV movie

[Derek237 · 7/10 · 2 August 2003]

I don't really understand why this movie was only made for TV, it has a lot of qualities that make it better than half the stuff out today on the big screen. But whether it's a big screen, a small screen, 2 hours, 90 minutes, this is still a good movie. William H. Macy is heartwarming and almost unrecognizable as Bill Porter. It's actually one of his best roles.

The one thing that bugged me were the title cards that had little quotes under the year the section of the movie was taking place, I didn't think those were needed. That aside, this is an overall good movie. It has drama, humour, and some damn fine acting.

My Rating: 7/10

Perfect movie, amazing performance!

[Braza · 9/10 · 14 February 2004]

I rented this movie non-pretensiously and was gladly surprise that I did it. It is about the story of a salesman who has brain disorder which leaves half of his body paralized. At last he finds a job as salesman of Watkins and give a powerful lesson of life. It is very touching, a story which will lead you to fell light at the end.

William Macy achieved a top-notch performance, and reached the panteon of excellent actors. Both him and the movie should get more recognition and I hope more and more people get too see it.

9/10

An inspiring true story that is often true...but not always.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 27 January 2021]

One thing I never have understood about Hollywood is the need to embellish people's lives in order to make a supposedly more cinematic story. So often, the actual story is amazing and inspiring....and I wish filmmakers would trust the actual story instead of playing fast and loose with the facts. This is definitely the case with "Door to Door"...a nice story about an inspiring man that simply would have made a great movie by sticking with the facts. Sadly, however, William Macy's and Steven Schacther's script (Macy also starred in the film) tends to stick close to the facts some times and others, well, they made things up.

The story is about Bill Porter, a man with cerebral palsy who was quite proud and didn't want to go on relief. Instead, he was able to secure a job as a door-to-door salesman and over time he became incredibly successful at his job and was apparently adored by his clients. Macy did a great job playing a person with CP (though having an actual person with the condition might have been really nice). The makeup also was great, as Macy looked almost exactly like the real life man he was portraying. Overall, a most engaging and inspirational film....even if it did at times make things up!

Great story, excellently acted and produced

[morrisonhimself · 10/10 · 16 July 2002]

Based on the true story of Bill Porter, this movie showcases a rarity: An admirable man. Movies today are so full of meanness, of violence, of generally nasty people, that this small movie about a man who insisted on earning his own way in life just shines like a beacon. William H. Macy's performance is award caliber. Actually everyone in the film is believable, and most are likeable and all are interesting. Even though I saw this great movie on a Ted Turner cable channel, I loved it, and recommend it to everyone. In fact, as a thank you, I rushed out the next day to buy the sponsor's product, elastic bandages. Johnson & Johnson really deserve our gratitude for presenting this marvelous story of a man who refused to accept anyone else's lack of belief in him. Bill Porter is a hero for modern America; this movie is inspiring.

Excellent acting and incredible inspiring story

[chewybach · 10/10 · 8 December 2004]

The hardest part for me was getting through each sucessive turmoil in the main characters life. If this doesn't make you see how much you take for granted then nothing will. Bill Porter is a story that's worth telling and done so in a manner that was entirely compelling. Not only was the flick a tear jerker but a real valuable lesson on why people need to be given respect no matter how hard they may have it in life. Respect is most definitely the most important part of a person's life. Persistence in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds make's the challenge all the more rewarding.

You know there's a bunch of talk nowadays about how decadent a culture we have become and how the liberalism of the 60's was a failure. I find the fact that some people really came to like and trust such a decent man as Bill Porter a reflection on the good that does come when people care just as much about their community as they do themselves. No matter who they are or how wrong they may seem in the eyes of society they respected Bill. We live in a world where the only concern has become preservation of wealth, while in many respects preservation of community and peace has slipped by the wayside. This movie in many ways is a wake up call to care for one another, to love thy neighbor and give people the chance to succeed.

This movie reminds us of the things that truly matter in life, such as empathy,respect, patience and humor. Sometimes we all need to think like Bill Porter and put our best foot forward even in the face of ignorance and suffering. It's not so much a question of doing good only for reward but of doing something/anything rather then quitting when odds are that you will lose the fight. Not giving in to that feeling is what makes "Door to Door" such an incredible success for anybody that cares to listen to the messege of the film. In forcing yourself to see the world through Bill's eyes you grow to respect him as a individual person that in his mind is not disabled in anyway not just because he thinks so but because he does so by lifting everyone he encounters in his life up to his altitude. Attitude is 95% of the battle and Bill proves himself a winner in life by winning that battle despite a course that is fraught with obstacles that you or me may never encounter. Thank you Bill Porter.

Door to Door will leave you hoping for a salesman to knock on your door.

[lauriesdell · 10/10 · 14 July 2002]

William H. Macy strikes gold in this wonderfully done film. Not only was Macy the star of the story he was also the co-writer and Producer.

This is the story of Bill Porter, a door to door salesman for the Watkins company, who has cerebral palsy. The story takes us from the early 1950's up to the late 1990's and shows us the life of this salesman and all the people who he has met and affected, for over forty years.

Bill is a loveable, funny, caring, and sympathetic character who the viewer cannot help but fall in love with.

The story is well worth seeing and will leave you in tears at times, and laughing right up until the end. I highly recommend this wonderful film.

Viewers hint: Keep your eyes on the tree!

The story of Bill Porter.

[Cipher-J · 2 January 2003]

The problem with attempting to review this type of story is that we are not given much room for an opinion. How do we critique the representation of a character who started out with a debilitating disorder, and did everything he could to overcome his limitations? In a film such as "I Am Sam" we can draw attention to the flaws in its premise, but the premise of this story is entirely believable. So all one can do is give it praise or question whether there is a message that follows logically from that basis. We are presented with the life of Bill Porter, whose accident of birth left him with cerebral palsy at a time in history when such persons were typically institutionalized. But Bill had a mother who believed in him until he believed in himself. As a result, and against all odds, he became a door-to-door salesman for products now more conventionally available at the grocery store.

In these days of 800 numbers, the Internet and megaplex shopping centers, it is hard to imagine a day when the door to door salesman met the needs of the neighborhood personally. To a certain extent, this story is as much about that phenomenon as the life of Bill Porter. We see him finding a place in the lives of his customers, fulfilling a role not unlike that of a minister or psychologist, a person who quietly and tactfully linked people together, listened to their concerns, and helped to heal their wounds. At the same time, we see Bill as an all too real human being, himself, disabled not only physically, but emotionally. The deep sense of pride that drives him on also blocks him from experiencing a relationship of his own. It is a very moving and personal story, respectful and ennobling. It needs no other message.

A TV production of high quality

[anaventura · 10/10 · 14 July 2002]

I've always been suspicious of TV-only productions and TV-driven directors. "Door to Door", however, was a refreshing change in the sea of boredom and mediocrity latest TV productions have used us to.

It was a true delight to watch William H. Macy playing the salesman Bill Porter. We revisit generations from the 60s to the 90s -btw, great music selection - led by this guy who sells door to door. Helen Mirren who was recently in Gosford Park is great. Kathy Baker, the nurse in "The Cider House Rules" is fantastic. Both are short but great parts!

This movie is a must!

Very disappointing.

[jack.hunter · 6/10 · 17 March 2003]

Macy is wonderful as usual but the movie as a whole is very disappointing. If you are just looking for a tear jerker this is for you, but if you care what makes a character tick forget this one. Apparently this man had a profound impact on many people in real life, but from the disjointed episodes presented in the film it seemed the film was going after the viewers tear ducts no what the cost. Macy's performance aside I found this film average at best.

Very inspirational!!

[cobblers · 10/10 · 16 July 2002]

This movie is very inspirational!! William H. Macy did a wonderful job in this movie and deserves an award for his outstanding performance. It is very well written and I can't wait to watch it again and again. We need more family movies like this. There was no violence, no sex, no vulgar language. I have been recommending this movie to EVERYONE! Bill Porter is UNSTOPPABLE!!

Where there's a will... there's a way.

[michaelRokeefe · 7/10 · 16 December 2002]

An intelligent feel-good film. William H. Macy stars in this fact-based story of Bill Porter, a champion door to door salesman, despite cerebral palsy. Porter became an inspiration to the people in his sales territory. Macy shares writing credits and Steven Schachter directs this touching story embellished with a few fictional tales of customers on Porter's sales route. Macy is worthy of any and every award that may reward his efforts. The cast also includes: Kyra Sedgwick, Kathy Baker and Joel Brooks. This is a top notch family film.

Funny, heartwarming and wonderful

[SherBa · 10/10 · 16 July 2002]

I loved this movie. I loved William H. Macy. He was terrific as Bill Porter. He made the character so real with so much spirit that I couldn't help but love him. I was often moved to tears and laughter as I came to admire this "persistent and persevering" and wonderfully endearing door-to-door salesman.

It is a treat from start to finish and I highly recommend that everyone see it.

'Heart warming' film to pass the time

[Becquerel · 7/10 · 24 February 2003]

The true(ish) story of an incredibly determined man with cerebrall palsy. I give Bill Porter 10/10 for his courage and determination. I give the film 7/10 because it is an entertaining true story, but not in any way spectacular. NB The score for one should not be confused with the other.

Sappy, Manipulative Dribble

[iamnotaprep · 4/10 · 21 July 2002]

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!

Is the new rule of movie-making that as long as you give your character a physical disability, he immediately becomes likeable, and the movie becomes a "heartfelt classic"? It must be, because so many people have given this movie such high reviews. I found it utterly boring with pathetic characterization.

Here are my main complaints:

First off, they kept the mother for far too long in the story. When she got Alzheimers, they used about twenty minutes of the film moving her from nursing home to back home to an assisted living facility, to the hospital...and none of these changes seemed to affect Porter at all.

When she finally died, the only thing that affected Porter was when he was trying to make a sale, he looked at a baby and couldn't go on. What was the deal with that? Were they trying to make some comment on the frailty of life? It didn't register with me.

Throughout the movie, the constant theme was Porter coping with his disease. Yes, we realize that he has cerebral palsy, so what? Do something with the character! Does he have feelings? I sure hope so, but the filmmakers didn't put any of that in the movie. Okay, he reacts violently to being called stupid, but other than that, he's just the little salesman that could. And the love story is disgustingly contrived. He seems to have a five minute attraction to Shelly, then just lets it go.

They obviously are trying to paint a picture of all the lives Porter touched through his route, but it only comes out as a jumbled mess. About the woman who bought the packages even though she didn't use them: What are they trying to say? Did she have an attraction to Porter? Did she just not have any friends and was desperate for someone to talk to? Was she trying to seduce him? Or did she just want to show some kindness to a "cripple"? The movie leaves all these questions hanging, and, frankly, I didn't care.

And Porter makes so many stupid choices, I wanted him to fail. He walks out in front of a bus. Okay, that was an error on his part, but pedestrians do have the right-of-way. But, in an attempt at nobility, he decides not to settle with the bus company, even just for expenses encountered. Why? The movie didn't show before that he had this sense of morality. Was it something that got put into his head at the hospital?

Porter finally gets redeemed at the end, by being the subject of a story in the local paper. But he did nothing to achieve this! In fact, he opposed it! He's almost an anti-hero, but the movie plays it up like it wants us to feel sorry for him when he's making the stupid choices in the first place!

The one shining light among all this darkness is Macy's portraial of Porter. He did an excellent job of diving into his character. He will probably win an Emmy for it, and I don't mind that. But this one part of this movie is a beacon in a land full of fog.

Forest Gump or I Am Sam it definetly ain't.

4/10

Uplifting story of a man who wouldn't let his disability hold him back.

[TxMike · 14 July 2002]

Bill Porter was born with cerebral palsy. As he tells a friend, "The doctor squeezed my head too tight when I was born." Bill had a good sense of humor, we believe he was just making a joke. His dad had been an award-winning salesman, and Bill wanted to follow in his footsteps, but was letting his disability hold him back. Until he told the head of sales, "Give me your worst route, the one no one wants. If I succeed, you're a hero. If I fail, you've lost nothing." Bill finds it very rough going at first, but eventually succeeds by getting to know all his customers and gaining their trust.

Bill Macy is just fabulous as Bill Porter. In this film they let his ears protrude naturally, instead of pinning them back as they have done for all his other films. The story spans 42 years, from 1955 when he gets his first job, to 1997 when he gets his route back after they have closed the door-to-door division, instead selling by phone and the internet. He realized he missed the human element too much.

Absolutely wonderful

[brookelangston · 10/10 · 24 May 2004]

I am a very hard sell for movies, I usually find films that other consumers and critics love to be awful. (Seabiscuit comes to mind.) However, this movie really was great, it passed by so fast! The story, the characters, it's all so well done and entertaining. You are left with such a great feeling, but it's not phony or annoying like some "feel good" movies can do.

I would recommend this movie to anyone. It is for all ages, and for just about any person (as far as the type of movie they prefer). I myself prefer comedies or horror, and this was more drama with a bit of comedy. However, it really is wonderful. Give it a try.

A Masterpiece worth watching!

[eric.haag · 10/10 · 18 January 2004]

This movie was just on Pay-TV 2 days ago here in Germany, and I accidently stumbled over it. What good luck! I was very impressed with this emotional movie which leaves (despite very sad moments that will make you cry) a very uplifting feeling once it's over. It's about dignity and how everyone can achieve his goals. I just found out that this title is available on DVD, and ordered it right away. This is a movie worth watching several times. I understand it won some Emmys, and it deserved every last one of the, Especially Macy's portrayal as Bill Porter is outstanding!

Moving and inspiring

[kgrimer · 10/10 · 29 July 2002]

I happened upon this little movie on TNT, sat down and didn't move until it was over. The story of salesman Bill Porter is one of the most touching things I've encountered in a long time and it will show how one simple person can unwittingly affect the lives of many people.

Feel Good film.

[andy2starr · 10/10 · 26 September 2004]

Not being a big fan of W H Macey I approached this film with trepidation but found simply stunning performances from Mr Macey and Dame Mirren. The whole ensemble cast also added to the rare watchability of this film. Yes, it is slushy and contrived in places but shows great courage coming from severe adversity. The premise revolves around the story of a cerebal palsy sufferer trying to make his way in the harsh realities of the past decades in the USA when , like most countries, disabilities of the kind shown in this film were treated with a almost plague like attitude. The film is warm and funny but also tremendously sad especially as our hero gets older. Take the time to indulge in this film and feel that perhaps your life is not so bad after all.

Forget disabled. I sold Amway for one day and gave up.

[=G= · 7/10 · 28 December 2002]

"Door to Door" is an up beat, feel good biopic about the life and times of Bill Porter, Salesman. Macy registers a solid performance as the minimally disabled CP victim Porter who peddles his household products with unfailing optimism and dogged perseverance becoming a friend of his customers and an icon to a vanishing breed of salespersons. "Door to Door" is a little pollyannish, has the look and feel of a teleplay, and is obviously tweaked to be a heartwarmer. However, the film is an enjoyable watch as a human interest story and a good commercial for Watkin's products which I'd didn't know really existed until I visited the billporter.com website and was transferred automatically to Watkinsonline.com. (B)

Note - IMDB.com stats suggest this is a chick flick for more mature women. With (at this writing) 208 people scoring a 10, 104 scoring a 1, and only 163 spread over 2-9, this is so far proving to be a love it or hate it flick.

Patience and Persistent

[magicp167 · 10/10 · 15 July 2002]

Bill Porter was a man pretty much everybody knew and loved on his little neighborhood. They never really noticed him until he was gone (retired). He meant a lot to people's hearts and minds. All he would say is that he's just a salesman trying to pay for the rent. But we know he's a lot more than that. And I believe this movie, does a great job at showing how nice of a man he is. William H. Macy does a terrific performance as the salesman Bill Porter. And him and Steve Schacter did a great job together. This story has warmth, love, and yes even tragic in it. So, see the story of a different kind of hero. And visit Bill Porter's website at www.billporter.com/ if you have any cleaning troubles or anything. Just give it patience and persistent.

Good feel-good film.

[bombersflyup · 7/10 · 6 January 2024]

In Door to Door, a man with cerebral palsy is determined to become a salesman.

It's a good feel-good tv movie, with a solid cast, though I recalled it being even better and thought it had Gwyneth Paltrow in it, so I was somewhat disappointed in that regard. Get a sale, get em for life, kinda true. The new boss pushing Bill aside when the impact he's had on the company's right in front of him, sends red flags. Finding that Gladys Sullivan had bought all of the products to not use them, kinda diminishes the salesman of the year accomplishment a little. Whether it's because she just wanted company or that she bought it out of charity, either way.

Nearly flawless performance by Macy.

[blackkenneth · 9/10 · 9 October 2003]

Not since Sean Penn's performance in "I Am Sam" have I seen such astounding acting. Macy showed his potential in "Fargo" but this far exceeds anything he has done before. Great performances all around by the supporting actors (particularly Hellen Mirren, with whom I have been impressed ever since "Excalibur") further make this film one not to miss.

William H. Macy is absolutely delightful in this sugar-coated but well-meaning tele-movie.

[Aussie Stud · 14 July 2002]

William H. Macy portrays the adult life of Bill Porter, an inspirational story about a man afflicted with Cerebral Palsy who manages to become a successful door-to-door salesman throughout four decades spanning the sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties.

"DOOR TO DOOR" is a factual-based story about the adventures experienced by Bill Porter as a door-to-door salesman, a man filled with so much admiration, persistence and charm, William H. Macy nails down the role with absolute brilliance.

Unfortunately, "DOOR TO DOOR" is very heavily coated with saccharine sweetness that it almost brushes off as a project that may have been intended for Lifetime, Television for Women. The story-lines involving Porter's customers and how their lives were changed by him are certainly inspiring, but one must also wonder if they actually did happen. I was most certainly intrigued by the story-line involving the separated couple and the butchered tree that marked the perimeter of their property, and the awkward story-line involving the gay couple and an obvious insinuation that one of their friends might have been inflicted with the AIDS virus, something that was never resolved and seemed a little misplaced.

Unlike "FORREST GUMP" which was entirely fictional, I never for a second during that movie wondered if and/or how the situations he got himself into actually happened. Throughout "DOOR TO DOOR", I did wonder a few times if 'this' or 'that' really happened, but regardless, I still enjoyed the movie without being buried under the obvious flaws and cliches.

Kathy Baker portrays a devoted customer who purchases his products even when she has no use for them, while Helen Mirren portrays his endearing mother who is stricken with Alzheimer's Disease and becomes one of the many hurdles Porter must struggle with throughout his difficult life. Kyra Sedgwick was charming as his trusty assistant, the energetic flame of his life that he never got to claim as his own, but probably became the best friend that he ever had.

William H. Macy definitely deserves an Emmy Award for his outstanding performance in this movie. He is just as brilliant on the small screen as he is on the big screen, while most people don't remember that he was once a featured cast member of the hit television series "E.R.".

"DOOR TO DOOR" is a truly inspirational story and highly recommended for those who are sick of all those movies about things getting blown up or people getting peppered with bullets. A welcome change indeed!

My Rating - 8 out of 10

Inspirational beyond words and one of my all time favorite movies

[kateann1027 · 10/10 · 23 December 2019]

I was so moved by this Uplifting True Story , and knowing the subject of this true story was still working for the company, I called and purchased a few products that I ended up loving. That's the power of film, and the inspiration of an amazing human being who never saw his disability, but his Ability (and a Great Mom who felt the same) and his capacity to follow his dream and NEVER give up. WOW.