Swing Vote

Swing Vote is a gentle and surprisingly sweet comedy that lampoons the electoral process, as seen through the bloodshot eyes of factory worker Bud Johnson (Kevin Costner).

While the rest of his countrymen and -women go to the polls, Bud seeks out his favourite bar stool.

In despair, his precocious 12-year-old daughter Molly (Madeline Carroll) secretly votes in his place only for the electronic ballot to be spoilt by a technical glitch.

His verdict, it transpires, will break the political deadlock between Republican incumbent, President Andrew Boone (Kelsey Grammer), and charismatic Democratic challenger Donald Greenleaf (Dennis Hopper), and hand one of the men the keys to the White House.

A media circus decamps outside Bud's trailer front door in the dustbowl town of Texico, New Mexico, as rival campaign managers Art Crumb (Nathan Lane) and Martin Fox (Stanley Tucci) search for the 'one issue that matters to this guy.' At first, Bud is seduced by inducements from the Republican and Democrat camps.

However, as voting day approaches, the single father begins to appreciate the gravity of his situation and he turns to Molly to guide him through the moral maze and prevent him looking foolish in front of pretty local TV reporter Kate Madison (Paula Patton).

• Release Date: Friday 26 September 2008

• Certificate: 12A

• Runtime: 120mins