Matinee Melee: 'Swing Vote' raises thoughtful questions about modern politics

Casey Phillips: From the previews, “Swing Vote” looked like it was going to end up trying too hard to be comedic, but as is often the case, the scenes selected for the trailer don’t necessarily reflect the overall tone of the film. Yes, it has its funny moments, but the serious statement it makes about how our political system caters to special interests is what kept me watching. Well, that and a phenomenal performance by Madeline Carroll as Molly Johnson, the daughter of “swing voter” Bud Johnson (Kevin Costner). She, along with Abigail “Little Miss Sunshine” Breslin, is one of the few child actors who manages to inject sophisticated emotions into performances her peers can only gawk at.

Holly Leber: “Swing Vote” certainly had its flaws — the movie dipped a big toe into the pool of condescension more than once — but overall I found it to be quite touching. As interesting as the commentary on our political system was, I think the father-daughter dynamic between Costner and Carroll was what really drove the film emotionally. He’s a ne’er-do-well single dad just this side of deadbeat. She’s a precocious 10-year-old who keeps him in line and tells a local reporter (Paula Patton) that she either wants to be a veterinarian or chairman of the Federal Reserve Board when she grows up — “Matilda syndrome,” my esteemed colleague reminded me when I wondered how to account for Molly being such a straight arrow given her example.

Casey: The relationship between father and daughter is surprisingly moving (little girls should never, ever cry, even in movies), but many people are going to be drawn in by the timeliness of this film’s debut just months before an election. Not that this is an exact echo. In “Swing Vote,” President Andrew Boone (Kelsey Grammer) is fighting for re-election against the appropriately named, tree-hugging Democrat Donald Greenleaf (Dennis Hopper), so there’s no clean slate.

Nathan Lane and Stanley Tucci also manage to pull off convincing performances as cutthroat campaign managers. Bud Johnson is essentially the “ultimate lobbyist,” so his every desire is met without question of how it will damage the candidate’s reputation. The results turn the world upside down with Republicans setting up nature preserves and Democrats filming ridiculous (if amusing) pro-life TV spots. The depths to which these two force their candidates to sink and the ideals they force them to abandon in favor of being “Bud’s candidate” is as shocking as it is terrifyingly believable. After this film, I’m crossing my fingers against the, thankfully remote, chance of a “single-voter party.”

Holly: I appreciated the struggle of conscience shown by both Hopper and Grammer. The performances are reminders that political figures are largely that — figures, who are driven by many. As exaggerated an illustration of the “one person can make a difference” platitude that “Swing Vote” is, it really is a fairly fascinating “what if” scenario. It’s smartly written and well-acted. Kevin Costner still owes movie-going public for “Waterworld” and “Swing Vote” helps ease some of his debt. Good supporting performances and a possible star-making turn from little Miss Carroll make this a solidly credible effort.

Nearly all of the characters struggle with ethical dilemmas here. This is not a movie to sit idly through, nor one in which to turn off your brain while the action on screen stirs your libido, pumps your adrenaline or triggers your gag reflex. “Swing Vote” has pandering moments for sure, but there’s a lot of food for thought and to not partake is to waste the money spent to see it.

Casey: “Swing Vote” definitely manages to buck the summer blockbuster trend by appealing to viewers from the neck up. And that, not scenes of Costner parading around in his boxers wielding a chocolate submachine gun or trying to outwit child protective services, is why this film is worth seeing. So pay attention, have fun and thank your lucky stars that the Bud Johnson’s of the world aren’t solely responsible for filling the Oval Office.