The Campaign

The Campaign (II) (2012)
85 min  –  Comedy  –   10 August 2012 (USA)
Director: Jay Roach
Writers: Chris Henchy (screenplay), Shawn Harwell (screenplay)
Stars: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis and Jason Sudeikis

When long-term congressman Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) commits a major public gaffe before an upcoming election, a pair of ultra-wealthy CEOs plot to put up a rival candidate and gain influence over their North Carolina district. Their man: naïve Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis), director of the local Tourism Center. At first, Marty appears to be the unlikeliest possible choice but, with the help of his new benefactors’ support, a cutthroat campaign manager and his family’s political connections, he soon becomes a contender who gives the charismatic Cam plenty to worry about. As Election Day closes in, the two are locked in a dead heat, with insults quickly escalating to injury until all they care about is burying each other, in this mud-slinging, back-stabbing, home-wrecking comedy. — (C) Warner Bros.

MY TAKE – There are some brilliant and well written scenes… and who knew that Will Ferrell could be so raunchy? But c’mon, it’s an American star-vehicle, so don’t go looking for depth or insight. Just laugh and enjoy… we did.

Some critics had this to say:

Stephen Whitty — Newark Star-Ledger
[A] very raunchy and sometimes pretty funny comedy – which isn’t above going for dumb jokes, but is also smart enough to play to its two stars’ strengths.

Richard Roeper — Richard Roeper.com
It’s way over the top, but then again, so are most modern political campaigns. Lots of funny s— here.

Rafer Guzman — Newsday
This big, broad, laugh-out-loud farce isn’t in the business of deep swipes or sharp insights. Its main message is that politics pretty much makes fun of itself.

Steve Persall — Tampa Bay Times
The Campaign runs an economical 87 minutes so misfires don’t matter, the candidates don’t wear out their welcome and truth conquers politics as usual. Why can’t life be like the movies?