Review of Swing Vote (2008) by Gavin S — 29 Aug 2010

This movie seemed to get it right: The average American is an out of work, trailer living beer drinking single parent who can't be bothered to vote, and who's kid somehow ends up smarter than them before they hit grade 7. The real laughs in this movie don't come from the duh obvious storyline that Bud will smarten up and take things seriously, as he is the deciding vote in the election. The laughs start when the Republicans and Democrats both start courting his vote and the various antics to win his support. For instance: Republicans end up being environmental protectionists who want universal healthcare, and the Dems start running anti immigration ads...however, the really funny part comes when Dennis Hopper (as the Dems presidential candidate) is standing in front of the camera, looks to his campaign manager and says "I don't know, something about this feels wrong..." and then goes on to shoot a pro life commercial in a playground with kids disappearing into thin air. The poking fun at the ridiculous way the electoral process goes in the States is the main thing, and this movie is great until it tries to take itself seriously in the last 30 minutes.

Oh and Willie Nelson does a TV spot for Hopper's character: "I'm Willie Nelson, and I love Greenleaf".

Kelsey Grammer does well too, Costner seems surprisingly adapt at playing a failure...maybe he still remembers Waterworld?