MOVIE REVIEW- Swing Vote

The first weekend of August brings us the new Kevin Costner flick Swing Vote. A timely piece, given the fact that the political season is in high gear.

Swing Vote is obviously loosely based on the real life Presidential Election of 2000, with the debacle in Florida. You've probably seen the trailer for this one. Costner stars as a drunken loser living in the remote desert of New Mexico who because of screwy circumstances has to re-cast his ballot for president. His vote alone will decide who goes into the White House. Does "Bud" take his role in life seriously, or is this just one big party, and another clown getting 15 minutes of fame?

Swing Vote also stars, Dennis Hopper, Kelsey Grammar, Nathan Lane, and Stanley Tucci. An awfully big cast. But make no mistake this movie belongs to,and is totally owned by a newcomer, Madeline Carroll, who plays Costners 11 year old daughter, Molly. Carroll completely takes over Swing Vote, with all the big stars sitting in the back seat. When she's not on screen, you wish she was, and when she is, she in engaging, believable, and absolutely fantastic. And it's a good thing too. Swing Vote does have some problems, but she makes it tolerable.

Swing Vote is being billed as a comedy of sorts, but it's really not. What it is, is an indictment of the two party system, and the mass media. I will say I was sucked into the story, and found the fact that both major political parties are portrayed as liars and snakes very relateable in today's climate. Many Americans are fed up with both sides playing the "win at all cost card." After watching Swing Vote, it's hard not to wonder if there really are any real statesmen anymore, or are politicians so power hungry and driven that they put their own needs ahead of the rest of us. Pretty accurate and surprising out of Hollywood, which tends to hammer the right and coddle the left in most movies like this. This story line is on point, and is one of the Swing Votes strengths.

Costner though as Bud has a huge role, in virtually every scene. I feel is the movies achilles heel. He's not funny when asked to be, and his drunken routine gets old quick. I will say at the movies crescendo, he does show up big and is compelling. Too bad we had to wait two hours for it. Tucci, Grammar, Lane and Hopper are all underused, contribute average performances to say the least.

To be fair, Swing Vote is not great, but not awful either. What it is hopefully is the launching pad for a bright new star in Hollywood. As we have Abigail Breslin, and Dakota Fanning, we now have Madeline Carroll. Remember the name, Madeline Carroll, she single handedly saves Swing Vote, from swinging and totally missing.