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Swing Vote

Play trailer Poster for Swing Vote PG-13 Released Aug 1, 2008 1h 59m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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38% Tomatometer 150 Reviews 42% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Bud Johnson (Kevin Costner), a beer-slinging loser, has one bright spot in his life: his precocious daughter, Molly (Madeline Carroll), who takes care of them both. However, on Election Day, Molly sets off an unforeseen chain of events that results in the race for the presidency coming down to just one vote: her father's.
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Swing Vote

Swing Vote

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Critics 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.

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Critics Reviews

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Joshua Rothkopf Time Out Rated: 3/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review Tom Charity CNN.com It's a sentiment Capra might well have echoed, though he would surely have punched up the gags while he was at it. Oct 18, 2008 Full Review St. Louis Post-Dispatch Rated: B- Oct 18, 2008 Full Review Jason Best What's On 온라인카지노추천 Swing Vote, like Costner's protagonist, is too benign to go for the jugular and settles instead for tickling us gently in the ribs. Nov 13, 2020 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Madeline Carroll offers one of 2008's best performances by a young actress in a film not featuring Abigail Breslin. Rated: 2.5/4.0 Sep 24, 2020 Full Review Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens Costner himself believes that Swing Vote echoes the emotion and sentiments of Bull Durham and Field of Dreams. I have to agree. So, come August 1, cast your vote for Swing Vote. It's a winner! Nov 15, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Clara B A very decent movie, a step above fine and strongly in the "good" category. Kevin Costner is a great actor who manages to balance endearing, likeable, and a total loser. The young girl who plays his daughter gives a surprising great performance as well, showing more range than most child actors could. The duo has great chemistry, his cluelessness and her precocious assuredness helps make the father-daughter duo feel more like a team than a dad with a kid, which helps round both of their characters. While the movie focuses primarily on the dad and daughter, there are other characters who are certainly present, though none of them feel as big as the main leads. The presidential candidates face internal struggles, but neither feels fully baked; their campaign managers even less so--while Stanley Tucci gives a great performance as a soulless political operative, Nathan Lane is far more successful in portraying an actual character. The reporter, played by Paula Patton, feels like she was being built to have more of an arc in the story, but the movie feels like it kind of forgot about her. The premise of the story is very entertaining, an absurd situation where one man's vote somehow decides the fate of the United States, which helps emphasise the message that every vote matters. Costner, who acts blissfully unaware of the weight he carries on his shoulders, does a good job of allowing the movie to weigh the debate between issues through the simplistic view of an uninformed swing voter. The movie doesn't offend either side, as it argues merits for both positions, letting the movie keep the appeal to centrist decorum typical of the decade. This also makes each candidate flip-flopping their positions in a desperate appeal to win him over amusing--the Republican candidate becoming an environmentalist, and the Democratic candidate becoming pro-life based on his blundering attempts to sound informed; of course, the candidates' managers desperately pull for any shred of advantage they can muster, making them go all-in on impressing a man who could not care less. Watching it does make the audience beg the movie to finish the plot lines it set-up without pay-off. Every other character gets a tease of a bigger arc, and none pays off besides the lead duo. Basically, don't expect too much of it. You watch the movie for Costner and Carroll's excellent performances, and a very entertaining premise. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/14/25 Full Review Deepest Bluest Suede Darius Dick Stinger Apini Emanuel Grouch Nukem III AKA The Rumble AKA Jennyanyany McPoopface Bridgerton AKA The Count of Monte Fisto The Greatest Tony Medley review ever, which makes it the greatest review in the history of reviews in any form of media ever. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/20/25 Full Review 007tribefan B Costner was magnificent. Many chuckles. Watched this to reduce my anxiety of REAL elections. Exposed the nasty business of politics. WHY DO WE ELECT FRAUDS?? Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/06/24 Full Review Daniel B "Swing Vote" is a thought-provoking political satire that skillfully blends humor and heartfelt drama. Kevin Costner delivers a standout performance as Bud Johnson, an apathetic everyman who unexpectedly finds himself holding the deciding vote in a presidential election. His portrayal is both charming and authentic, capturing the essence of an ordinary individual thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Madeline Carroll shines as his precocious daughter, Molly, bringing depth and warmth to their father-daughter relationship. The film offers a balanced critique of the political system, highlighting the lengths to which candidates will go to secure a single vote. Director Joshua Michael Stern adeptly navigates the narrative, ensuring that the satire remains sharp without overshadowing the emotional core of the story. "Swing Vote" is a timely and engaging film that encourages viewers to reflect on the power and responsibility of their own vote. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/05/24 Full Review Audience Member It was hilarious they had a routine for child services 2.8. Don’t get me wrong it’s completely unbeleivable but a nice escape Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/21/21 Full Review Audience Member The funniest voting comedy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Swing Vote

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Movie Info

Synopsis Bud Johnson (Kevin Costner), a beer-slinging loser, has one bright spot in his life: his precocious daughter, Molly (Madeline Carroll), who takes care of them both. However, on Election Day, Molly sets off an unforeseen chain of events that results in the race for the presidency coming down to just one vote: her father's.
Director
Joshua Michael Stern
Producer
Jim Wilson, Kevin Costner
Screenwriter
Joshua Michael Stern, Jason Richman
Distributor
Walt Disney
Production Co
Touchstone Pictures, Treehouse Films
Rating
PG-13 (Language)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 1, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$16.3M
Runtime
1h 59m
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