Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 17, 2011

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

| Original Score: B- | Oct 18, 2008

The film varies between ironic cynicism about the political process and overt whimsy and sentimentality.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 26, 2008

The blend between surreal satire and sentiment isn't always comfortable but the set-up is intriguing and Costner nails the part.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 26, 2008

What starts out as a hokey satire on electioneering and spin becomes a hokey lesson on civic responsibility, with a catch in the throat and a tear in the eye. Try to suppress the curl in your lip.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 26, 2008

Hayseed nonsense, folksily scripted. Whenever it becomes too much - or too little - close your eyes and think of Frank Capra.

| Sep 26, 2008

Swing Vote is a benign but telling satire.

| Sep 26, 2008

But away from the cutesy stuff there are some surprisingly sharp digs at the political process.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 26, 2008

It's like a party political broadcast brought to you by the Idiot Party.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Sep 26, 2008

He shoots simultaneously for 'wake up, America!' inspiration and good ol' boy charm but ends up putting both barrels through his own cowboy-booted foot.

| Original Score: 2/6 | Sep 26, 2008

This light satire is unlikely to influence the forthcoming election, but Costner's in fine fettle.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 26, 2008

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

Full Review | Aug 4, 2008

It is neither appreciably better nor dramatically worse than its hokey, please-describe-me-as-'Capraesque' premise.

| Aug 2, 2008

As for the political commentary ... it's as toothless as a Disney Channel movie.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Aug 1, 2008

One minute you're laughing at its sendup of the political process, and the next you're stricken by the sorry state of the sweet and brainy protagonist's family.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Aug 1, 2008

One of the most surprising, politically suggestive movies to come out of Hollywood this year.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 1, 2008

As often happens with politics, even as Swing Vote entertains, it leaves us feeling like we've been subjected to some slick manipulation and worse, left with promises unfulfilled.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Aug 1, 2008

Swing Vote, an oddly off-balance comedy directed by Joshua Michael Stern, feels like two movies; one much better than the other.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Aug 1, 2008

The mix of comedy and drama is winning; Costner couldn't be better, and the little girl is a find.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 1, 2008