'Swing Vote' Review

Kevin Costner and Madeline Carroll play working-class father and daughter in Joshua Michael Stern’s film.  Watch the trailer: http://swingvote.movies.go.com/?CMP=KNC-svgtitle&HBX_PK=swing%20vote%20movie&HBX_OU=50

    I was a bit disappointed in this movie but maybe it's because I was expecting something different.  The previews led me to believe it was more of a comedy. Swing Vote proved to be more serious than funny although it could have used more laughs. The pacing could have been tightened as the political scenes seem to go on too long or repetitious .  I'm not saying I didn't like it or not recommend it. The father-daughter scenes are the best part, including a heart-breaking one where daughter and mother meet after many years, each expecting more than what they want. 

      Kevin Costner plays a ne'er-do-well but likable single father of an adolescent daughter wiser beyond her age. He slides easily into his role but it's newcomer Madeline Carroll who almost steals the movie from the seasoned cast.  When it's learned that he must cast the deciding vote in the Presidential  election, their lives become a media circus and pawns for the press and politicians. Kelsey Grammar makes a good incumbent President but Dennis Hoppers lacks bite as his opponent and is better off playing villains.  When his wife slaps him for lowering his standards, you almost think it's for being in a role unsuited for him. I kept waiting for Nathan Lane to be funny but that's due to my expectation.  The political trickery should be dirtier in this movie and provide more laughs. More satire is called for but perhaps the filmmakers wanted to avoid it and concentrate on the plight of the working class and those without jobs.

   Swing Vote ends on an uplifting note as Coster redeems himself and makes a moving speech how he squandered his life and should be thinking of others who are worse off than him. This movie is not doing well at the box office but it's a pleasant two hours.