Swing Vote
By Marshall Fine
Rating:
Who’s in it: Kevin Costner, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper
What’s it about: Boozy, unemployed single dad Bud Johnson (Costner) attracts the world’s attention when it turns out his lone vote will decide a presidential election.
Political science: Shades of 2000! Bud – the ultimate undecided voter - earns center ring in a media circus – and both the president (Grammer) and the challenger (Hopper) flock to his little New Mexico town to woo his lone vote. This dramatic comedy earns comic points when both candidates do total flip-flops on key issues because they think it will win Bud’s favor.
Costner brings a sly charm to this loser, who loves the attention and doesn’t really get what all the fuss is about. Newcomer Madeline Carroll is spunky and smart as his daughter – the brains of the family – while gorgeous newcomer Paula Payton plays a local TV reporter who wants to ride Bud’s story to the big time. Costner and Co. ultimately aim for warm-and-fuzzy feelings, when sharper edges would have given this movie some zing. But the message – democracy belongs to each voter so get involved! – is definitely worthwhile.
Long story short: This modern comedy is sneakily old-fashioned.
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