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Swing VoteGenre: Comedy
Released: 2008
Rating:
Swing Vote, to sound as cliché as possible, is a heartwarming film that was smart, laugh out loud funny and actually, believe it or not, sent an important message about politics. I generally try to stay away from political discussions in my reviews but this movie is going to let me lift that embargo. One thing about elections that I have learned over the years is that everything these political candidates are saying to us right now, whether it be Obama or McCain, is almost 100% B.S. Now, before you start yelling at your computer, hear me out. This has a lot to do with the film itself and the message it is sending about our current state of politics. Just think about a high school presidential race. They always say that they are going to get vending machines for the school, put a McDonald's in the cafeteria or even create limo services to pick up each student every single day to provide transportation to and from school. We all know that is B.S. and just a way to get votes and gain popularity.
As of right now, until that person actually gets into office, we will not know what their true intentions are. That person is just trying to win over as many votes as he/she can. Am I saying that Obama and McCain are lying to us or not truthful people? No. I am just saying, as of right now, they are telling us what we want to hear. I think they are both fine individuals but even they know that right now, it is all about winning. They can do the changing once they are in office. That is just one of the many themes discussed in this satire filled comedy about politics. Swing Vote stars Kevin Costner, Madeline Carroll, Dennis Hopper, Kelsey Grammer, Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci and a little performance by Willie Nelson and Richard Petty.
Based on the title, you can pretty much guess what the plot line revolves around. Earnest "Bud" Johnson (Costner) is you're below average Joe who lives in a trailer park with his little daughter, Molly (Carroll). Bud is a single father who makes minimum wage but has just been laid off from his job. His daughter is 100 times smarter than him and actually has ambition in life, unlike her father, who is drunk, always late for work and just flat out does not care about his life. It is one of the situations where you don't know what you have until it's gone. The film opens on Election Day and his daughter, who doesn't ask much of Bud, asks him nicely to meet her at the voting place after work so that he can cast his vote. She tells him that it is his civic duty to do so. Bud has the mindset of a lot of Americans in that he thinks that ONE VOTE does not count. As always though, he disappoints his daughter and does not show up at the voting place, leaving her stranded while he is passed out drunk in his truck. Let's just say that his daughter takes matters into her own hands and casts the vote for him. Only problem is that the voting machine malfunctions and his vote isn't taken. Well, the whole country has voted and every states electoral votes are in except for NEW MEXICO and they actually narrow it down to the city that everyone is waiting on; Texaco, New Mexico. Apparently, the vote that Bud's daughter submitted didn't go through correctly and is now the deciding vote for the entire presidential election! GO FIGURE! It isn't long before the media finds out about this and now it is down to him to decide the fate of the next President of the United States. You can guess now what the political candidates need to do to help persuade Bud to vote their way.
Kelsey Grammer plays the current President up for re-election and Dennis Hopper plays the Democratic candidate looking to get elected. Each of their campaign managers will stop at nothing to get their candidate to win, even if that means changing their stance on issues.
Overall, for a movie about such a serious subject, they add a great lighthearted approach to it while really drilling in the fact that EVERY VOTE COUNTS! Now, obviously this situation is a ONE IN A GAZILLION chance of ever HAPPENING but it is still possible. I mean, could you imagine the entire fate of a Presidential Election being in the hands of one individual. That would be epic.
Kevin Costner pulled off an amazing performance as the type of American who doesn't know anything but drinking, hunting and fishing. I am not saying there is anything wrong with it, but he pulled the role off perfectly. I actually felt bad for him at times because of how dumb his character really was. Costner really made you believe in that role. His counterpoint though, was his daughter, played brilliantly by Madeline Carroll. This girl is 13 years old and outshines over everyone in the entire film. When she first came on screen, I immediately had that Dakota Fanning/Abigail Breslin vibe, but she really shined on her own. Her character was so down to earth and just worked perfectly with Costner's stupidity. It was the perfect YING/YANG situation. She had one awkward crying scene which was a little overacted but other than that, she pulled off a great first performance.
The film did have its issues, other than the fact that it was totally unbelievable at times. The editing in the beginning with the quick cuts and the fast-forwarding of the film was a little off. Those editing techniques didn't fit film's style and just felt very off. It was sloppy and looked like it was being done to look cool and served no stylistic purpose at all.
The message of the film is what stood out the most for me. It just goes to show that people will do anything to win because you get to watch these candidates change their stance on issues and just bend over backwards to win Costner's vote. I am not saying this is a realistic representation of our Presidential Candidates but I could see it happening.
The movie made me laugh out loud at times, especially during the campaign commercials on issues; specifically the ones on gay marriage and pro-choice. They were just cleverly written, yet politically incorrect, which is what made them so ironic and hilarious. It was the type of comedy that you laugh at, but look around the audience to see if other people are laughing because it was so wrong.
I give the film a 4 BDK rating because I feel that it is a great matinee viewing. It is one of those movies that you go see before going out to dinner or a great Sunday matinee. I can already sense that a lot of critics will probably pan this movie saying that it was way too cheesy and unbelievable but I will be the first to say that I was moved by this movie and it made me feel really good. The strongest point of the film is the ending. They could not have ended the movie on a more perfect note. I will leave it at that!