SWING VOTE
Review - Matt Mungle
"My vote swings to no."
What if you had the opportunity to pick the next President of the United States? If the fate of McCain and Obama rested on your shoulders alone would you bask in the glow of power or shrink back at the tremendous responsibility? In the new comedy, Swing Vote, one normal American citizen gets that chance. It is an interesting thought concept and with the way our election process works, it is not too far fetched. The odds are near incomprehensible, but on paper, it is at least possible. As I watched the film I wondered how I would handle the responsibility. And I must admit I was a little ashamed at what I discovered about myself. Dang you Hollywood!
In this film we find the presidential election at a standstill due to a voting malfunction in a small town in New Mexico. The 5 electoral votes coming from this state will decide the outcome of the election. And the outcome hinges on one mans vote. A vote that didn't register and a vote he must now recast. And this vote is the one the entire country is watching and waiting for. Bud Johnson (Kevin Costner) is a man who drifts through life with a beer can and little regard for the state of anything. He is at a point where all his dreams are past him and he has no ambition to reach for any new ones. The only decent thing in his life is his twelve year old daughter Molly (Madeline Carroll). She is certainly the adult in the family and does all she can to get her dad to focus on the situation and make a smart decision. Bud just wants to party and enjoy his new found celebrity status. The weight of the vote itself means very little. He just likes the free stuff.
I loved the way this film poked and made fun of the campaign process. Watching the two presidential nominees (Kelsey Grammer and Dennis Hopper) do everything in their power to woo Bud is a realistic view of politics as a whole. Their campaign managers (Stanley Tucci and Nathan Lane) care nothing about honesty and character, but only about winning. The two nominees find themselves jumping through hoops and wobbling on their platforms and beliefs every time Bud mentions things he wants and cares about. In no time at all everyone has lost site of what they stood for. Issues like immigration, abortion, and healthcare are all touched on in a way that is subtle yet poignant. This is meant to be a comedy but you get the feeling the writers had points to drive home. Still. the film has no party agenda and shows both sides in the same negative light.
As relevant as the message is it does not make up for the lack of acting and direction of the overall project. At times this felt like a made for TV movie and Costner seems like he is trying too hard. Bud doesn't come across as believable or genuine. That is very important in a film like this. Also, at times it seems geared toward adults with the heavier language only to switch gears and be more about the daughter Molly and her struggles. It is a Disney film so mom is non existent and we see Molly struggle in this area and trying to get her dad to shape up. These two sides never gel and take away from the foundation of the film.
Swing Vote is rated PG-13 for language. There is nothing else in this movie that is objectionable. Still the lack of great comedy or strong characters negates any family friendliness. It is an ok film at best and with the price of movie tickets you certainly don't get a big bang for your hard earned buck. Though a decent film to watch on cable on a lazy Saturday afternoon, it has no true big screen appeal and I give it only 2.5 hanging chads. |
