Sunday, August 03, 2008
A+E, Movies, Reviews

Costner the real winner in ‘Swing Vote’

A shorttake review of 'Swing Vote'

“Swing Vote” will probably be forgotten by Election Day, but hopefully its message about the importance of voting will help get some people to the polls in November. 

The latest presidential race boils down to New Mexico’s five electoral votes, and finally to Earnest “Bud” Johnson (Kevin Costner), who isn’t the guy you’d pick for such an important decision. You might not even trust him to buy you a six pack. Bud—a “divorced single father, recently laid off”—has only been entrusted with his 12-year-old daughter Molly (a winning Madeline Carroll) because her absent mother is in even worse shape. Costner proves the perfect choice to play Bud, a lovable galoot who just needs a total makeover. He gets every laugh he goes for, and keeps you rooting for Bud, even though he’s a pathetic loser.

Due to a mechanical malfunction, Bud will have to recast his vote—but not for 10 days, which gives the candidates plenty of time to woo him and the media time to make him a celebrity. Meanwhile, Republican President Andrew Boone (Kelsey Grammer), who’s running for re-election, and his Democratic opponent, Donald Greenleaf (Dennis Hopper), camp on Bud’s doorstep, assisted by their respective campaign managers, uptight Stanley Tucci and freewheeling Nathan Lane.

As Bud’s simplest pronouncement is misinterpreted, the candidates flip-flop like crazy trying to please him. The Democrat gets tough on immigration and abortion, while the Republican endorses environmentalism and gay marriage. It’s so much like the real campaign, it’s almost not funny. But only almost. 2.5 STARS—Steve Warren