Review of The Campaign (2012) by Diego T — 11 Jan 2014

In a summer of disappointing comedies (Ted, The Dictator, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World), we really needed a hit. And we have found it in the form of The Campaign, a fantastic new comedy from Zach Galifanakis and Will Ferrell.

The best part of The Campaign is the overall feeling of "Why did no one think of this before?" The premise is perfect, the casting is great, and it has virtually no flaws--- although it has a little too much slapstick and not enough satire. Will plays Cam Brady, a four-term congressman up for reelection. With no opponents, he will win just by being on the ballot-- Enter Zach Galifanakis as Marty Huggins, a simple (to say the least) southerner with a bad wardrobe and a lisp.

You would think Ferrell would smoke him easily, but due to a few incidents involving baby punching, the campaign is closely tied. I won't give any spoilers, but the resulting hilarity, is so plausible it's scary. All the writers did was take the usual mudslinging and amp it up a little. You could certainly see any of these events playing out in an everyday North Carolina election.

As the campaign heats up, the rhetoric get ludicrous. Marty forces Cam to recite the lord's prayer onstage, and Cam tries to make a porno with Marty's wife. The film's biggest asset, however, may be that we never learn which is the Republican and which is the Democrat-- although it is somewhat obvious just by looking at them.

So, score?... um... Well, like I said, there was a little too much slapstick. Cam gets bitten by a snake and shot in the leg, and Marty generally gets slapped around a lot. Overall, it's a very poor film. And it boasts one of the silliest endings of any movie this summer, although I won't spoil it for you. Final score? 4/10 stars.