Score: ***1/2 out of ***** (B-)
Long Story Short: The Campaign enlists two of today's most popular comedians, Will Ferrell and Zack Galifianakis, to duke it out on the campaign trail just as the real political season heats up. It offers a large dose of absurd humor dealing with many issues relevant to today's society yet avoids areas that are particularly controversial. And of course, there's plenty of raunchy stuff, too. Its tidy run time is blessedly opposite of an actual political campaign, but if you prefer gentle, subtle humor, this one's probably not for you.
Back to a more usual genre by filmgoing habits, The Campaign was next up on my list of summer films to see. As soon as I heard the premise - Will Ferrell and Zack Galifianakis as opposing candidates in a political film - I knew I had to see it, being a big fan of both comedians. As trailers and commercials came out, as well as generally positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes (66%), there was no doubt I was going to see this one. The Campaign was directed by Jay Roach (Austin Powers films), and stars the above mentioned comedians.
First to be introduced in The Campaign is Cam Brady (Ferrell), a Congressman from North Carolina. He is shown running a typically vanilla re-election campaign ("___ are the backbone of America!") as he has not been challenged for the seat in years. Despite his clean-cut public image, though, Brady is a rather lusty fellow and his philandering finally leaks out. Hearing of this, local business titans the Motch brothers recruit naive local tourist man Marty Huggins (Galifianakis) to run against Brady. After the two candidates' first public meeting, it's obvious that Brady is out of Huggins' league, so the Motch brothers hire shady campaign manager Wattley (McDermott) to help him.
The odds thus evened, the campaign intensifies into a back-and-forth circus of attacks and blunders. Some of these, no doubt, you've seen in the commercials or trailers, but there are still a number of surprises along the way. Things also become more complicated when Huggins discovers the real reason behind why the Motch brothers are supporting him. The Campaign provides a happy ending (no, not that kind), but I'll leave further details of the journey unspoiled.
The cast in The Campaign is very good, and that strength goes beyond the two leading men. Will Ferrell has probably been my favorite comedian for the last decade or so, and I try to see most of his films. He does a good job here, but, for the first time I can remember, he really isn't either the clear leading man or even the main focus of attention. Other than the philandering and a few obligatory Ferrell freak-outs, Brady is really one of Ferrell's more normal, calmer characters. Galifianakis is definitely the focus here, and he steals the show. Yes, the film fleshes out his character much better than Ferrell's, but Zack really dives into the role and makes him a unique, believable guy. Apparently based on a character early in his career, Zack matches hilarious tangible characteristics (voice, walking style) with a surprisingly interesting personality.
Starring as the evil Motch brothers are veterans John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd. Given more screen time than you might expect, the two seem to be having a blast and ham it up appropriately. The two campaign managers are also very good, particularly Huggins' Wattley (played by Will McDermott). He very effectively portrays a ruthless political handler, which tends to lead to some dark/creepy but good humor. Jason Sudeikis as Brady's Wilson is also good, though he's mostly just a good-natured guy frequently exasperated by his candidate's blunders. Two other small but notable roles are Brian Cox as Huggins' savvy but ruthless father, and Karen Maruyama as a vocally versatile maid.
If you think The Campaign's politics get too close to the 2012 election, you don't need to worry too much. Neither Democrats or Republicans get even a single mention, although it's pretty clear that Brady is the Democrat (and John Edwards, to be specific) and Huggins the Republican. A number of general modern political themes are present to make it relevant - religion, campaign finance, terrorism, etc., but few that are really controversial for the real 2012 election (OK, there's one reference to socialism, but it's so ridiculous and hilarious that it doesn't really count). The humor itself is largely successful, in my opinion, and tends toward the absurdist. A few scenes kind of fall flat, particularly when Ferrell tries too hard to incorporate his freak-out humor, but Zack's change of pace makes up for it.
***
There are a lot of good things about The Campaign. It doesn't dawdle or, as many comedies in recent years, drag itself out with too many unnecessarily "dramatic" scenes. It's a good length. The film doesn't lose much steam at all in the final act, something most comedies, even Ferrell's, have done more and more in recent years. Most of the political humor really is hilarious, and hits the right balance of being extreme enough to not poke too close to real politicians, but not so out there that it loses its meaning. Although the humor probably appeals a little more to liberals than conservatives, the film does not take sides on any issue, only points out absurdities on each side. With one exception: the Citizens United decision, which is flayed mercilessly and, in my opinion, gloriously (oh, and the brothers behind it who are basically the Koch brothers). So what's wrong with The Campaign? I was a bit disappointed with Ferrell. Particularly after his SNL Bush impression, I thought he had a lot more to add to a political comedy, but he doesn't quite get there. Also, the film tends to shift focus between absurdist political comedy and down-to-earth personal issues, which becomes jarring. I'd like to see this one again as I was a pretty tired when I saw it. But for now, I can say it's definitely worth a try in the theater if you're a fan of either of these comedians; if not, you probably should wait for DVD/Netflix.
