REVIEW: Swing Vote

STARRING: Kevin Costner, Madeline Carroll View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 08/01/2008 DATE SCREENED: 07/24/2008 The Verdict GOOD - See it in the theater

With this being an election year in which the American public must choose between two candidates that could not be more different, the timing is perfect for a movie like Swing Vote. In Swing Vote a Presidential election literally comes down one person’s vote, and the saying that every vote counts was never more true. That one vote is in the hands of a Bud Johnson (Kevin Costner), an apathetic slacker from Texaco, New Mexico. Bud drinks way too much and just recently lost his job. The vote actually belongs to his twelve year old daughter Molly (Madeline Carroll), who not only registered her dad to vote but was the one placing the vote that is in question due to a voter machine malfunction. Since twelve year olds technically can’t vote, Molly has to take a back seat while her dad takes credit.

When a local reporter, Kate Madison (Paula Patton), breaks the story that the election is being held up for Bud to recast his vote, the national media and both Presidential candidates descend on Taxaco and camp out outside of Bud’s door. Bud is set to cast his vote in ten days, and both candidates put plans into motion to win Bud’s vote. Bud doesn’t even care about the election, but is determined to enjoy his 15 minutes of fame. He meets with the candidates, has parties thrown in his honor, and grants interviews. Kate had previously done a story on Molly, so she has the inside track on the interviews. When Bud says that he is for the environment, the incumbent president changes his stance and becomes a protector of the environment. When Bud says he is pro-life, without even knowing what it means, the other candidate switches to a pro-life agenda. Much to Molly’s chagrin, Bud is making a mockery of the entire political process. Molly wants people to think her dad actually cares, so she answers his stacks of mail from all over the country and tells everyone that her dad takes his responsibility seriously. Molly convinces Bud to hold a debate between the two candidates before making his final decision. When Bud begins to read all of his mail that Molly had been answering it finally dawns on him that the election is actually important, and he is carrying a huge responsibility.

As long as you can get past the ridiculous series of events that leads to the election coming down to one vote, you can enjoy Swing Vote. The movie works as a comedy and a drama. Watching Bud deal with his overnight fame and watching the candidates hurry to film commercials based on Bud’s likes/dislikes provides many funny moments. The film also deals seriously with the relationship between Bud and his daughter Molly, and her absentee mother. The movie takes a completely serious turn at the end when Bud realizes his responsibility. The switch in tone is a abrupt, which made it seem somewhat out of character for Bud. But that might have been necessary for the film to make its final points. The film really isn’t about who he finally votes for as President, but the process this man who never voted goes through in order to realize that voting is important. The cast is really strong, with Madeline being the big find as Molly. When the film started I thought that they should have hired Dakota Fanning for the role, but it wasn’t long before Madeline completely won me over. Kelsey Grammer and Dennis Hopper do a great job as two completely opposite candidates who wonder if kissing Bud’s butt is really the right thing to do. Paula Patton is beautiful as Kate and Stanley Tucci does good work as usual as the President’s aid. Swing Vote is worth a trip to the theater, and I hope everyone leaving the theater will understand that every vote will matter in the upcoming election.