The Kevin Costner Movie That Demands More Attention
Kevin Costner stars in Swing Vote, an underrated comedy-drama about the presidential election.
Kevin Costner has an acting career that spans over four decades. He has come out with multiple critically acclaimed successes and is perhaps best known for his roles in films like The Untouchables, Dances with Wolves, and the TV series, Yellowstone. However, the star was also in a film called Swing Vote that, while it has reaped less attention than his other projects, is a hidden gem that more Kevin Costner fans should enjoy.
Swing Vote was released back in 2008 and was directed by Joshua Micheal Stern. Even though the film is relatively forgotten today, it contains a star-studded list of actors. Along with Kevin Costner, Paula Patton and Kelsey Grammer are seen in the film.
The movie takes on an outlandish plot centered around the presidential election. The film follows Bud Johnson (Kevin Costner), an average Joe. He lives in New Mexico and is lazy, unemployed, and apolitical. His bright, young daughter named Molly (Madeline Carroll) tries to inspire him to take a more active approach to life.
The film takes place in 2004, and the U.S. presidential elections are just ramping up. Molly sees the election as a chance to energize her father, so she sneaks into a local polling place to vote for him when he doesn’t come to pick her up. As she attempts to turn in the ballot, the power goes off.
This causes the ballot to get registered but it is not counted by the machine. As the race comes to a close, Bud’s vote becomes essential in determining New Mexico’s allocation of electoral college votes. Soon everyone is looking to Kevin Costner to decide who will be the next president of the United States.
With Bud set to recast his vote in two weeks, the media, candidates, and current president try to get his attention. The film is hilarious, with Kevin Costner providing fans with a solid performance that is still enjoyed all these years later.
While the movie is not at all an accurate portrayal of the United States electoral system, and one person would never end up deciding the outcome of an election, the film still holds merit as social commentary. Viewers watch as the two presidential candidates try to gain Bud’s favor, eventually abandoning the cynical tactics imposed on them by advisors and taking a more human approach to politics. Over time, they gain Bud’s respect.
Swing Vote grossed $17.6 million worldwide after being released and was met with mostly critical reviews. Many note it’s just too hard to mix political satire and heartfelt drama in the same film. While Kevin Cosner’s performance in the film was also met with mixed reviews, loyal fans of the actor find themselves coming back to the film time and time again.
Swing Vote may not be perfect, but if you are looking for a charming performance by Kevin Costner, some political commentary, and a heartwarming family story, this is the film for you.
