Summer Movie Suicide Mission No. 25: Swing Vote

In which one man attempts to view every summer blockbuster for the entire season, regardless of taste, genre, or squandered satirical opportunities.

The movie business has always had a strange relationship with politics. There are stars who often make it their personal business to take a political stance on pet issues, however hollow their statements may seem. There are also films, usually in the independent cinema, that advocate a particular cause or position, and often draw protests or boycotts from the other side. Then there are films like Swing Vote, which play at politics, but are ultimately so concerned with not offending anyone that they’re ultimately worthless. Not only do they fail at making a political statement, they’re lifeless and unentertaining.

Swing Vote, in which Kevin Costner is put in the immensely unlikely position of being the final voter who must decide the outcome of a presidential election, works neither as farce or satire. Costner’s options, strait laced Republican incumbent Kelsey Grammer and eccentric Democratic Senator Dennis Hopper, are both such stereotypical portrayals of the two parties’ ideals that they come off completely faceless. The only real message here is that every vote counts, and that America is such an awesome country because of that fact alone, no matter that the one vote of concern (Costner’s) is in the hands of an uninformed alcoholic who can be pretty easily bought off with platitudes and gifts. Exactly as the Founders envisioned.

When you suspend disbelief enough to get past the ridiculousness of the scenario, you find a film that really blows some great chances at satire. When the two candidates are pressed into courting the idiot Costner, they find themselves betraying their party lines, with the Democrat taking a strong stance against illegal immigration and abortion, while the Republican pays lip service to environmental concerns and promises legalized gay marriage. While both characters worry about losing their principles and rebel against their advisers (Nathan Lane and Stanley Tucci, who provide some of the film’s only bright spots), they never really see the potential for any kind of compromise. The film also misses the opportunity to make a significant comment on the nature of an uninformed electorate that makes the existence of a character like Costner’s likely. And it doesn’t even have the balls to show what Costner’s choice is, after his climactic decision (at a hokey redneck Presidential debate) that, hey, voting is great.

This is a film that’s burdened with some complex issues, particularly the dog and pony show that the American electoral process has become, but just dips its toe into that water instead of making a strong satirical statement. In different hands, Swing Vote could have been a powerful artistic statement suggesting a radical change in the way the political system operates. But that would have hurt everyone’s feelings. It pokes a little fun at the status quo, but falls short of suggesting we do anything about it.

Film: Swing Vote
Director: Joshua Michael Stern
Stars: Kevin Costner, Madeline Carroll, Paula Patton, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci

Viewing Situation: Weekday matinee, 3 audience members; standard projection
Rotten Tomatoes Average: 40%
My Grade (Out of 10): 2

Next Up: Star Wars: The Clone Wars