Swing Vote (2008)
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38% of critics liked it
(146 reviews) -
44% of users liked it
(97,839 ratings)
When the mischievous antics of a precocious 12-year-old girl result in the outcome of the United States presidential election hinging on the vote of her apathetic, likable loser of a father, the man who thought that life had long since passed him by is reluctantly thrust into the national spotlight… More When the mischievous antics of a precocious 12-year-old girl result in the outcome of the United States presidential election hinging on the vote of her apathetic, likable loser of a father, the man who thought that life had long since passed him by is reluctantly thrust into the national spotlight in this political-themed comedy starring Kevin Costner. Bud Johnson (Costner) is your typical American -- a simple man and loving father who never would have thought he had the power to change the world. Though when election day finally arrives and Bud prepares to cast his ballot, his overachieving daughter Molly proves to be the catalyst for a stunning series of events that place the fate of the free world in the hands of a man more comfortable slinging cases of beer -- her father. The two candidates are portrayed by Dennis Hopper and Kelsey Grammer, with Nathan Lane and Stanley Tucci as their campaign managers. George Lopez also stars as a local TV-station manager who has to deal with the political factions as they set up camp in the small town. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Directed By
- Joshua Michael Stern
- Written By
- Joshua Michael Stern, Jason Richman
- Genres
- Comedy
- In Theaters
- May 20, 2008 Wide
- On DVD
- Jan 13, 2009
- Studio
- Touchstone Pictures/Treehouse Films
Critic Reviews
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Tom Charity, CNN.com
It's a sentiment Capra might well have echoed, though he would surely have punched up the gags while he was at it.
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Wally Hammond, Time Out
He shoots simultaneously for 'wake up, America!' inspiration and good ol' boy charm but ends up putting both barrels through his own cowboy-booted foot.
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Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
Not a bad movie, probably OK to rent on DVD, but I'm saying don't rush to the theaters.
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Christopher Orr, The New Republic
It is neither appreciably better nor dramatically worse than its hokey, please-describe-me-as-'Capraesque' premise.
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Claudia Puig, USA Today
One minute you're laughing at its sendup of the political process, and the next you're stricken by the sorry state of the sweet and brainy protagonist's family.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Kevin Costner
as Bud Johnson
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Madeline Carroll
as Molly Johnson
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Paula Patton
as Kate Madison
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Kelsey Grammer
as President Boone
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Dennis Hopper
as Donald Greenleaf
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Nathan Lane
as Art Crumb
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Stanley Tucci
as Martin Fox
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George Lopez
as John Sweeney
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Judge Reinhold
as Walter
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Charles Esten
as Lewis
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Richard Petty
as Himself
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Willie Nelson
as Himself
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Mare Winningham
as Larissa Johnson
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Mark Moses
as Attorney General Wyatt
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Nana Visitor
as Galena Greenleaf
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Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman
as Chief Running Bear
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Shawn Prince
as Jed
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Dale O'Malley
as Hank
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Mary Sue Evans
as Mrs. Abernathy
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Gary Farmer
as Curly
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Adam Taylor Gordon
as Justice Brower
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Bruce McIntosh
as Father in Classroom
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Tom Romero
as Ad Exec
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Tony Blankley
as Himself
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Aaron Brown
as Himself
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Campbell Brown
as Herself
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Tucker Carlson
as Himself
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James Carville
as Himself
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Matt Frei
as Himself
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Mary Hart
as Herself
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Arianna Huffington
as Herself
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Larry King
as Himself
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Anne Kornblut
as Herself
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Bill Maher
as Himself
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Chris Matthews
as Himself
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Lawrence O'Donnell Jr.
as Himself
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Forrest Fyre
as Ted Drake
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Ivan Brutsche
as Carl
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Sheila Ivy Traister
as Vermont Reporter #1
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Jeremy Jojola
as Vermont Reporter
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Suzanne Michaels
as Vermont Reporter #3
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Cynthia Ruffin
as Boone Staffer #1
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Jason Henning
as Boone Staffer #2
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Les Shapiro
as Network Reporter
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Cynthia Strauss
as Darlene
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Chance Romero
as Pizza Delivery Guy
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Charles Michael Moore
as UPS Delivery Man
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Colin Jones
as KNME Techie
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Trista Callander
as Commercial Director
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Richard M. Dereyes
as Market Reporter #1
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Shauna Clark
as Market Reporter #2
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Debra-Jayne Brown
as Market Reporter #3
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Price Hall
as Market Reporter #4
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Olajida Kashu
as Gay Doctor
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Jessica Morin
as Gay Female Cop
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Tim Janis
as Gay Soldier
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Scott Meyer
as Gay Partner #1
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Brent Lambert
as Gay Partner #2
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Christopher Dempsey
as Secret Service Agent #1
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David Meeker
as Secret Service Agent #2
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Janeal Arison
as TV Producer
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Madelin Whelpley
as Female Student #1
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Alyssa Gutierrez
as Female Student #2
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David Midthunder
as Female Student #3
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Taylor Warden
as Male Student #1
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Angelo Martinez
as Male Student #2
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Isaiah Bergert
as Male Student #3
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Arron Shiver
as Greenleaf Aide #1
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Kate Shroeder
as Greenleaf Aide #2
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David Dalton
as Greenleaf Aide #3
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Heather Hitt
as Greenleaf Aide #4
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Pierre Barrera
as Henry
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Todd Lewis
as ET Segment Producer
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Dan Gerrity
as Trailer Reporter #1
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Cris Ornelas
as Trailer Reporter #2
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Esodie Geiger
as Trailer Reporter #3
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Constance Hsu
as Trailer Reporter #4
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Katalina Parrish
as Trailer Reporter #5
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Joshua Michael Stern
as Commercial Director
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Tony Stern
as Gospel Minister
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Mara Holguin
as Waitress
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John Coinman
as Bud Johnson's Band
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Blair Forward
as Bud Johnson's Band
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Terry Morgan
as Bud Johnson's Band
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Larry Cobb
as Bud Johnson's Band
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Charles Park Chisolm
as Bud Johnson's Band
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Bobby Yang
as Bud Johnson's Band
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Mark Thomason
as Stand-In to Mr. Costner
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Tim Carlson
as Stand-In
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Trine Christiansen
as Stand-In
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Marquelyn Carrillo
as Stand-In
- David Cowgill
- Patrick Falls
- Eileen Galindo
- Bridget Hoffman
- Luisa Leschin
- Richard Miro
- Bob Neill
- Jonathan Nichols
- Al Rodrigo
- Laurie Petok





