Friday, August 31, 2012

The Campaign



              Vulgar and raunchy but loaded with laughs, "The Campaign" is unlike any other political satire you may have seen. But what else would you expect from Will Ferrell and Zack Galifianakis?

               Mr. Ferrell's films are hit or miss and Mr. Galifianakis is more or less a "one trick pony" type of actor but they have great chemistry here as political opponents running for Congress. It helps when your director is comedy veteran Jay Roach and your producer and screenwriter is Adam McKay.

               Mr. Ferrell is Cam Brady, the incumbent Congressman running unopposed until two millionaire brothers (hmmm) played by John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd decide a change is needed and back Mr. Galifianakis's character, Marty Huggins. Marty is a sweet man who loves his family and pet pugs but during the course of the campaign is transformed by his ruthless campaign manager (played by Dylan McDermott), into a political fighting machine. Cam Brady is a walking cartoon of a Congressman more interested in money and women than anything else. Jason Sudeikis plays his campaign manager, who tires of getting his candidate out of trouble.

               They are some genuine "R" rated laughs here and while the inevitable outcome doesn't surprise, the campaign trail along the way has many twists and turns as each candidate seeks to outdo the other for votes. The TV ads, in particular, are extremely funny and a confessional at Marty's dinner table had me laughing out loud. 

               "The Campaign" is worth your vote.

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