Review of Swing Vote (2008) by Kristin S — 25 Apr 2011

This one turned out to be an unexpected treat.

I bought this just because of Kevin Costner and the praise of a friend (and because it was awfully cheap!) and put it on the shelf for a long time. But what a enjoyable movie which puts a satirical view on the American voting system, mocking the Florida debacle of 2000.

Costner is Bud, the everyday American, uneducated, in a dead-end job, somewhere in New Mexico. The light in his life is his 12-year old, very clever daughter who by accident triggers the events of Bud becoming the deciding voter in the presidential election - the two candidates then shape a campaign just for him, much to his daughter's dislike.

I have seen Costner in a lot of films, but this truly was one of his most convincing ones. Him being quite the anti-hero, the normal guy who does embarrassing things and who loves nothing more than a bottle of beer. Costner often looks like a little boy in a candy store during the movie, something which makes him immensly likable and which fits in my eyes perfectly to his role.

His daughter, played by Madeline Carroll, is a real discovery - especially during the first minutes where the viewer gets to know this father-daughter-couple it is her who carries the movie, who binds the audience to the screen, both because of her quick wit and the amazing way she plays the neglected daughter.

Combined with fantastic co-stars like "Frasier" Kelsey Grammar, Dennis Hopper, Stanley Tucci and Nathan Lane, the movie really develops into a heartwarming and yet satirical comedy both about the absurdity of politics and the father-daughter-relationship.

The movie never takes sides when it comes to the presidential canditates and this is why the ending is just right.