Swing Vote

Movie review: 'Swing Vote' delivers an American hero Diebold machines and hanging chads notwithstanding, it's still a resonant, if improbable, message: Any citizen of our nation might cast the deciding vote in an election. ... Full Review

Several characters in Swing Vote , in fact, take the opportunity to do the right thing when you'd least expect it (or, at least, do the right wrong thing at the right time, which is almost as good. And there are funny, bluntly cynical moments in Swing Vote , with ads specifically tailored to appeal to Bud's stance (or what's perceived to be Bud's stance, with campaign staff on both sides sifting his bar talk and vocalized mis-steps like they were the pronouncements of the oracle ... Full Review

Twelve-year old Molly (proficient, automaton-like Madeline Carroll) is caretaker, mother and spouse to Costner's laid-off, lazy dad Bud Johnson. It's a hard call as to whether Swing Vote 's mirthlessness is more oppressive than its insulting idea of Costner's loser as the working-class salt of the earth, or if its dishonesty takes the prize. ... Full Review

The scenes of pandering one-upmanship that follow afford some of the movie's rare mirthful moments, including a pro-life political commercial that's just sick enough to be funny. Costner's Bud Johnson is not a lovable rascal of a dad; he's a boozing derelict who ignores and betrays his daughter in scene after uncomfortably painful scene. ... Full Review

But thats me: the kind of cynic Swing Vote would like to smack, even though I do vote, for all the good it does. And you almost want to hug Swing Vote , too, its so cute in how it thinks that its not too late for all that, that one-man-one-vote really is something akin to, well, maybe nine innings of baseball on a glorious summers day. ... Full Review

If you ask me, Costner's charm disappeared in a puff of smoke long ago, but that doesn't discourage him and director Joshua Michael Stern from indulging in movie-star hubris that bloats the movie well past the two-hour mark. Their campaign managers - Stanley Tucci and Nathan Lane, respectively - are so desperate to sew up a win, they pressure the candidates to abandon long-held positions by their parties based on incoherent utterances by the apolitical Bud. ... Full Review

In the end, I can't say there's anything humorous or compelling enough about SWING VOTE to recommend you go and see it. On his worst day, I consider Kevin Costner a great actor; I truly do. ... Full Review

The movie's insistence that the outcome of the election doesn't matter is sort of galling. The hopes and ideals of the apathetic American citizenry are pinned on this hard-drinking resident of Texico, N.M., whose wife ran out on him to pursue a singing career, and whose 12-year-old daughter, played-and very well-by Madeline Carroll , has too long been the caretaker in their coexistence. ... Full Review

Yes, the premise is totally ludicrous, but the movie's problems are deeper and far more troubling than that. One of the most idiotic movies about the American political process ever made, "Swing Vote ... Full Review

At first, the film gleefully dives into the candidates' desperation with a shameless lack of subtlety. This is a perfect concept for a sharp political comedy, and it took real work to screw it up. ... Full Review