Swing Vote

Rating PG13 Formats DVD Genre comedy Starring Kevin Costner, Madeline Carroll, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci , Paula Patton, George Lopez Directed by Joshua Michael Stern Publisher Touchstone / Disney

Back again in a role the veteran actor Kevin Costner is no stranger playing, Swing Vote is an entertaining and clever feel-good movie about Bud, an ill-informed, beer-guzzling nobody, and his opposite Molly, the educated, motivated, and 13 going on 30 daughter.  The movie begins with the two living their ordinary life, Molly pleading for her father to get involved in the issues plaguing the country and otherwise affecting the upcoming election.  When Molly, too young to vote, encourages her father to “do his civic duty” and he irresponsibly flakes out, she takes it upon herself to deceitfully vote in his absence.  Not going as planned, Molly sets off a chain of events causing the election to come down to one single vote, Bud’s.  Now with the pressure of both candidates desperately trying to get his vote and the American public trying to get their voices heard through him, Bud has to search to figure out what matters most and where he stands on politics he never thought important. 

Swing Vote is a cute and charming American movie which really focus’ on the power of democracy and the importance of a single vote.  With an all star cast including Kelsey Grammer as the Republican candidate, and fitting Dennis Hopper as the Democratic candidate, the movie gives fun and satirical scenarios as each of the candidates leave behind their platforms and switch sides in order to gain Bud’s vote.   The supporting roles also include superstars like the magnificent Nathan Lane and the exceptional Stanley Tucci as the two battling campaign managers.  Out shinning everyone, however, was Madeline Carroll as Molly.  Unable to take your eyes off of her when on screen, the young actress in captivating with her sassy on point comments, and adult mannerisms.  While throughout the movie one is ready to give up on Bud with all his carelessness, it is Molly who keeps us rooting for her slacker dad, in anticipation of the characters change. 

The film stays light hearted while dealing with politics, never picking a side on any of the real life issues it touches on; issues such as, illegal immigration, outsourcing, environmental protection, gay marriage and other popular political platforms.  Swing Vote is less about picking a side and more about an average American becoming informed and involved in the country he lives in and finally taking a vote on what matters to him and the ones he loves.  The theme of staying true to yourself be it whatever side you take, runs deep within the film as every character, at one point, questions the choices they make and what matters most to them.

The funny and inspiring movie, Swing Vote, really plays off the fantasy of being able to have an one on one with the leader of your country asking the true questions and getting the true answers.  In its comical and non-offensive way, this movie stresses the importance on listening and sorting through the fluff to find what is important to you.  With charming characters paired with situations that pull at the heart, Swing Vote is a film that is witty, touching, and delightfully entertaining.