Swing Vote

I saw Swing Vote last night. It wasn't a horrible movie, but it wasn't anything wonderful either. It was a good little "throw-away movie." The movie centers around the importance of a single. Kevin Costner's character, Bud, is set to determine the next president due to a voting machine error. The outcome of the election (and future of the free world) is placed in his hands. Problem is, Bud is an uneducated wastrel and father to a child who acts as his parent. The child, Molly, is played by Madeline Carroll who does a great job. (I'm sure we will see her in a lot more movies.)

Since there was a voting machine error, the law requires that the voter be given a chance to recast his ballot. However, doing so holds up the election, causing the candidates to move their base of operations to Bud's front yard. A lot of wining and dining is done by each candidate in an effort to persuade Bud to vote for the respective candidates. As Bud voices his impulsive thoughts on "the issues," the candidates respond with campaign commercials and grandstanding, trying to show Bud how the candidate agrees with his point of view. The candidates' positions end up flipping, where the Republican candidate starts looking more like a Democrat and vice versa. However, the political ads end up being the best part of this movie (besides Madeline's acting job).

This campaign ad is by the Democratic nominee, Donald Greenleaf (Dennis Hopper), in response to Bud's stating that he likes life, after being asked if he was "pro life or pro choice." It's clear in the movie that Bud has no opinion because he doesn't understand the difference between the two choices. The commercial is Greenleaf's reply to Bud's "like's life" response.



In a similar vein, Bud is concerned with "In Sourcing," the bringing in of Mexicans to work in the plants and take the jobs of the home-town boys. Below is Greenleaf's immigration response to "in sourcing."



On the flip side, the Republican incumbent, Preside Boone (Kelsey Grammer), demonstrates his campaign's stance on equality for Gay America.



Again, I don't think this movie is a total waste of time and money, but I'd put it on the rental list.
Swing Vote Trailer: