Film Review: "The Campaign"

Starring: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifinakis, Jason Sudeikis, Dan Aykroyd, John Lithgow, Dylan McDermott, Karen Maruyama

Director: Jay Roach

Initial Release Date/s: 08/10/12 [United States]

Running Time: 85 Minutes


With only four months left until the citizens, ages 18 and above, in the United States of America make a decision as to whom their Commander-in-chief for the next 4 years shall be. The comedy film genre decides to take advantage of the situation, and act as the social shaker and palette cleanser, for what the US is about to face.

Four-time incumbent Democratic Congressman of the 14th district of North Carolina, Camden "Cam" Brady (Ferrell), is gunning for fifth term unopposed, and hopes that will lead him into becoming a future Vice Presidential candidate. But tragedy strikes his political aspirations as a infidelity/sexual scandal reaches the media and public, which damages his law abiding, good husband image. Taking advantage of the opportunity are brothers that are two crooked businessmen,Wade and Glen Mocht (Aykroyd & Lithgow), persuade Marty Huggins (Galifinakis), the Tourism Director of Hammond [a town, part of District 14] and the son of their business associate, to run as the Republican ticket and Cam's opponent. The conniving brothers fully fund Marty's campaign, so that he can unknowingly owe them political favors, like sell parts of the 14th District to China to cut shipping costs for their company. Marty announces his candidacy and opposition towards Cam's fifth term, which leads to a slew of ugly smear tactics, and bending of character morals [which are very obscure in films by Galifinakis & Ferrell]. The film also follows their various attempts in trying to swoon their constituents, working on their public image, and trying to balance their odd families' lives.

This is Ferrell's second time doing a film and playing a character that hails from the U.S. American South, which reinforce typical blue collar stereotypes in the U.S., since "Talladega Night: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" [2006]. Some folks might find some familiarity in Will playing a politician, because of his impressions as former President of the United States, George W. Bush, Jr., in his stint on "Saturday Night Live" and comedy website "Funny Or Die." But like all his of characters, he plays the loudmouth, supercilious halfwit. As for Galifinakis, it's interesting to see him play a character, which he rarely seems to produce. Zach's character portrayal of Marty Huggins is like an amalgamation of a mild-mannered Paul Lynde and some stock character from a Seth MacFarlane cartoon series.

The creators of this crazy political satire was none other than, Shawn Harwell & Chris Henchy, who are writers for the popular HBO comedy series, "Eastbound & Down." The director of the film is known as the director for the Austin Powers and the first three Focker films, Jay Roach. The some of the jokes and gags felt like they were excess jokes for some fake news show, but rewritten for people who could not relate to political humor. The film had some decent jokes, and a plethora of crazy quotes, but the scene that really made me laugh was when Marty Huggins has an awkward conversation with his dad on a fishing boat. I also chuckled louder than usual when Uggie, from "The Artist" [2011], got punched by Cam.

Still, the film may not be as sound, plot-wise. Yet it does present itself as a way for people that rarely indulge in politics, to start knowing what's going around them, politically. Especially, with the upcoming National Election, which will most likely help, or stagnate the current economical status of the United States.


Verdict: See it on DVD/Blu-Ray/Netflix.