DVD Review: Swing Vote

Rated PG13 for language, frequent alcohol use

Starring Kevin Costner, Madeline Carroll, Paula Patton, Kesley Grammer, Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci, Dennis Hopper, and George Lopez

Bud Johnson is a loveable loser from Texico, New Mexico who could really care less about politics. He can barely hold a job, let alone take care of his young daughter Molly (she does all the housework and cooking, he spends his free time guzzling down beer at home or with buddies at the bar). With the election coming up, Molly's school gets the kids all excited about it and Molly insists that her father take part and vote. After promising he'd take Molly to go see the voting process, Bud instead gets drunk and passes out in his truck, leaving Molly waiting at the polling place alone. Frustrated, she sneaks in and decides to vote for her father, however the machine malfunctions and although the ballot is registered, the vote did not count. Scared, Molly runs to go find her father and heads home.

Later that night, it is learned the election is at a standstill, as it all comes down to whoever wins the state of New Mexico and the lone vote holding everything up is Bud's, as the state is literally 50/50. Bud and Molly are awaken in the middle of the night by government officials who inform that due to the malfunction, Bud's ballot was not recorded and that he has up to 10 days to recast his ballot.

What ensues is a media circus on Bud's lawn, putting Texico on the map, as the entire nation watches and wonders who Bud will vote for. Both election candidates arrive in town as well, both changing their stances on the issues just to sway Bud's vote. A man who's only care was getting drunk and doing whatever he could to avoid losing his daughter is now faced with deciding on the next President of the USA.

While this movie came out a few months before the important election of 2008, it was an easy one to pass off as pure election propaganda. Sure, the central theme is that every vote does count, but it was actually an enjoyable movie. Madeline Carroll steals every scene she's in as young Molly who has to take care of her immature father and the rest of the cast really makes the film believable. By the end of the film when Bud realizes what he has to do to make the best decision, you really are cheering for the fact that he seems to genuinely change and have people's best interests at heart, thanks to his daughter.

This is a good one to watch - it has drama, it has comedy, it is lighthearted and also makes you feel patriotic and inspired to go vote.