I like Kevin Costrner as a human, and have admired many of his movies. But this one was painfully stupid to me. He played a self-absorbed drunk who trivialised everything and everyone around him. He spoilt everything he touched. He made the world a mean and nasty place. And he committed all those offenses whilst caring for an innocent daughter. CreepY!
How is that kind of personality disorder even remotely funny? To tell it straight, the guy was a complete --- and depending on what continent you're on --- jerk, tw*t, a**hole--- he was destructive and passively cruel. Please forgive my strong language, but that's how sleazy and despicable that character was. What he stood for, even in a fantasy, an entertainment, was SOOOO unworthy of any us, the filmmakers should feel ashamed.
It reminded me, in an uglier sense, of course, of the wooden and artificial 1941 movie with Gary Cooper: "Meet John Doe." I liked that as a child, but when I saw it a year or so ago on telly, I cringed, it was so fake and contrived. And that's the definition of what's NOT a classic--- when it is applauded when new, but looks like crap a few years later.
This movie, "Swing Vote," does not fail because it is illogical or silly. It is. But so are many wonderfully entertaining films. This fails because it displays a destructive and callous personality type that poops on everything, like a harpy.
Despite the real "stretch" it would take to accept the plot--- and hey, I was willing!--- underneath the camera work and the brilliant new-comer young actress who played his daughter, and Kelsey Grammar and Dennis Hopper, etc.--- underneath it all was a vile cess-pit of pure ugliness.
If you watch this, be prepared to feel like bathing right after. BTW- there are plenty of goofy and implausible political movies that are pretty good in their own right. Eddie Murphy played a US Congressman in one, Michael Douglas the President in another. James Garner, Lauren Bacall, and Jack Lemon in another--- those were all silly, too, but they also had some charm and some beauty, and they entertained. Even "Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo" was at least funny.
How is that kind of personality disorder even remotely funny? To tell it straight, the guy was a complete --- and depending on what continent you're on --- jerk, tw*t, a**hole--- he was destructive and passively cruel. Please forgive my strong language, but that's how sleazy and despicable that character was. What he stood for, even in a fantasy, an entertainment, was SOOOO unworthy of any us, the filmmakers should feel ashamed.
It reminded me, in an uglier sense, of course, of the wooden and artificial 1941 movie with Gary Cooper: "Meet John Doe." I liked that as a child, but when I saw it a year or so ago on telly, I cringed, it was so fake and contrived. And that's the definition of what's NOT a classic--- when it is applauded when new, but looks like crap a few years later.
This movie, "Swing Vote," does not fail because it is illogical or silly. It is. But so are many wonderfully entertaining films. This fails because it displays a destructive and callous personality type that poops on everything, like a harpy.
Despite the real "stretch" it would take to accept the plot--- and hey, I was willing!--- underneath the camera work and the brilliant new-comer young actress who played his daughter, and Kelsey Grammar and Dennis Hopper, etc.--- underneath it all was a vile cess-pit of pure ugliness.
If you watch this, be prepared to feel like bathing right after. BTW- there are plenty of goofy and implausible political movies that are pretty good in their own right. Eddie Murphy played a US Congressman in one, Michael Douglas the President in another. James Garner, Lauren Bacall, and Jack Lemon in another--- those were all silly, too, but they also had some charm and some beauty, and they entertained. Even "Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo" was at least funny.