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Swing Vote

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Swing Vote (2008)

39%
54%
58%
N/A
N/A
39 %
Reviews Counted: 112 Fresh: 44  Rotten:68 Average Rating: 5.2/10
 
Consensus: Despite Kevin Costner providing his most charismatic performance in years, Swing Vote fails to find the right mix of political satire and heartfelt drama.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for language

Runtime: 2 hrs

Theatrical Release: Aug 1, 2008 Wide

Box Office: $15,749,276

Synopsis: Writer/director Joshua Michael Stern (NEVERWAS) tackles American politics in his second feature film. Bud Johnson (Kevin Costner) is just your below-average Joe. He works in an egg factory, likes to knock back a few too many beers, and is a single parent to 12-year old Molly (Madeline... Writer/director Joshua Michael Stern (NEVERWAS) tackles American politics in his second feature film. Bud Johnson (Kevin Costner) is just your below-average Joe. He works in an egg factory, likes to knock back a few too many beers, and is a single parent to 12-year old Molly (Madeline Carroll), a bright spitfire who does her best to keep her dad on the straight and narrow. Patriotic Molly insists that apathetic Bud do his civic duty and vote in the upcoming presidential election, a tight race between Republican incumbent Andrew Boone (Kelsey Grammer) and Democratic candidate Donald Greenleaf (Dennis Hopper). Soon the media and both candidates descend upon Bud's hometown of Texico, New Mexico, when it's determined that his vote wasn't counted and will decide the outcome of the entire presidential election. Now that Bud is a "somebody"--there's even a "Bud Cam" capturing his every move--will he be swayed by visits to Air Force One and the "Bud Ball" held in his honor, or will he be the voice of the American people and vote for the better candidate? The lengths the candidates go to in order to win Bud's vote are high points of the film, as they find themselves supporting initiatives that are completely opposed to their platforms at the urging of their campaign managers, played by Stanley Tucci and Nathan Lane. Grammer is well cast as Boone, and it's a hoot to see counterculture icon Hopper in this light. Costner makes Bud likable despite the loser stereotype he personifies. But this film belongs to Carroll, a lovely young actress who can steal a scene with one look. If nothing else, SWING VOTE is a reminder that even though politics may be a game, every single vote really does count. [More]

Genre: Comedies

Starring: Kevin Costner, Paula Patton, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane

Director: Joshua Michael Stern
Screenwriter: Joshua Michael Stern, Jason Richman
Producer: Jim Wilson, Kevin Costner
Composer: John Debney

Reviews

 
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Ratings Image
3/10

If your perfect weekend is Nascar and country music, with barely any political discussion, then this is your cup of tea ... I mean bottle of beer.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/27/08
Jeff Bayer
The Scorecard Review
Ratings Image
4.0/4

The most underrated film of the year.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/17/08
Charles Koplinski
Illinois Times
Ratings Image
N/A

Although it preaches political engagement, it hopes very much to have an audience full of Buds who won't mind when it ambles lazily into the closing credits having taken a stand for nothing whatsoever.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/12/08
Robert Davis
Paste Magazine
Ratings Image
B

A rocky start aside, this blend of timely political satire and father/daughter heart warmer offers enough truth about media manipulation and voter pandering to win over an undemanding audience.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/11/08
Bruce Bennett
Spectrum (St. George, Utah)
Ratings Image
2.5/4

Unlikely premise, yet script offers dialogue, heart-tugs, actual intelligent thought and a fair and necessary reflection on the State elections in the Union. A pleasant film.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/11/08
Ross Anthony
Hollywood Report Card
Ratings Image
2/5

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Jonathan Kiefer
Sacramento News & Review
Ratings Image
4/10

In its relentless sermonizing about voting, the movie treats the audience like we're Bud Johnson--who the movie also calls a 'dumbass.'

Full Review | comment Comment
08/06/08
Stephen Himes
Flak Magazine
Ratings Image
3/10

Costner swings and misses

Full Review | comment Comment
08/06/08
Jackie K. Cooper
jackiekcooper.com
Ratings Image
2.5/5

The toothlessness of this purported political satire is such that it would have a hard time chewing its way through a bowl of Cream of Wheat.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/06/08
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Ratings Image
3/4

A surprisingly funny and astute satire of the two-party political system.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/05/08
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat
Ratings Image
3.5/5

Goofball Bud Johnson is such a funny, undemanding guy and his daughter such a pre-teen chip of gold, whatever ticket they're running on... I swing their way.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/04/08
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals
Ratings Image
N/A

Not a bad movie, probably OK to rent on DVD, but I’m saying don’t rush to the theaters.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/04/08
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
3.5/4

It's funny, sad, involving, and very well made. This is one of the big surprises of the summer.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/04/08
Austin Kennedy
Sin Magazine
Ratings Image
1.5/5

One of the most idiotic movies about the American political process ever made.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/03/08
Geoff Berkshire
Metromix.com
Ratings Image
D+

This is one film that Larry the Cable Guy could have improved in the leading role.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/03/08
Kevin Carr
Film School Rejects
Ratings Image
2/4

If Barry Levinson's Wag the Dog serves as the gold standard for political satire, then Swing Vote has got a bad case of fleas.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/03/08
Gary Brown
Houston Community Newspapers
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1.5/4

A usually reliable indicator of a bad movie is this: It contains the credit 'Larry King as himself.'

Full Review | comment 1 Comment
08/03/08
Kyle Smith
KyleSmithOnline.com
Ratings Image
3/4

This gentle, philosophical movie gets my vote for an entertaining pre-election thought-provoker.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/03/08
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)
Ratings Image
N/A

With Costner's yokel having a decided preference for being handed a beer rather than a ballot, he does a pretty darn good job of exposing the phony platitudes and pandering of candidates, in a movie about bad news politicians and even badder parenting.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/03/08
Prairie Miller
NewsBlaze
Ratings Image
3/4

The political satire is nice (but perhaps too gentle) and the family drama is touching, but the two elements don't necessarily mesh well within the same film.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/02/08
Sean McBride
Sean the Movie Guy
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Related Forums

Darko, Donnie
(2008)-SWING VOTE takes a swing at everybody & gets a bi-partisan shellacking!!!
by: Darko, Donnie 9/4


So who does he end up voting for (obviously a spoiler)?
by: minderbinder 8/18


THE spammer - NO mercy!
(2008)-SWING VOTE-Kevin Costner spent $30 mill of his own money for this movie-HELP?!
by: THE spammer - NO mercy! 8/10


THE spammer - NO mercy!
(2008)-SWING VOTE-Kevin Costner spent $30 mill of his own money for this movie-HELP?!
by: THE spammer - NO mercy! 8/10


Vote No On the Dull and Soporific 'Swing Vote'
by: MH and THE MOVIES 8/8
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