The Campaign (2012) User Reviews

A Decent Comedy! Ferrell & Galifianakis deliver Superbly!

[namashi_1 · 7/10 · 26 October 2012]

Jay Roach's 'The Campaign' is A Decent Comedy, that offers genuine laughs in the goings-on. And, Ferrell & Galifianakis deliver Superbly!

'The Campaign' Synopsis: In order to gain influence over their North Carolina district, two CEOs seize an opportunity to oust long-term congressman Cam Brady by putting up a rival candidate. Their man: naive Marty Huggins, director of the local Tourism Center.

'The Campaign' is undeniably funny, I laughed & enjoyed myself. The film serves its purpose. Chris Henchy & Shawn Harwell's Screenplay is funny & crisp. Jay Raoch's Direction is satisfactory. Cinematography & Editing are alright.

Ferrell & Galifianakis are up for vie top honors. The Comedic Veterans are hilarious in their respective parts & go head to head from start to end. Among the supporting cast, Jason Sudeikis is first-rate. Brian Cox, John Lithgow & Dan Aykroyd are excellent.

On the whole, 'The Campaign' works.

The Campaign: A decent review to a decent movie.

[Modest95 · 6/10 · 3 September 2012]

Let me start off by saying that I love Will Ferrell and Zack Galifianakis. I love most of the films they starred in. So upon hearing that these two comedic heavyweights will be starring in the same movie together, you could imagine my excitement. Did it meet my expectations? Sort of. This comedy staring these two actors was enjoyable and had plenty of laughs but after viewing, I realized how it could have been much better.

Basically, Democratic playboy Cam Brady has to verse off against republican every-man Marty Huggins after Marty enters the race against the long-term congressmen Cam at the last minute. This of course leads to hilarious incidents that occur in both parties.

The basic plot line is really effective since the film is not biased and allows for making fun of both parties, which I very much appreciate. Unfortunately, the real issues lie in the acting and writing. Ferrell And Galifianakis really don't get the chance to spread there "wings" in this film. Both have the potential to be hilarious but they never get the chance. Jason Sudeiki's seems very unused as Cam Brady's Assistant Mitch. Again, he does not get the chance to shine in this film. I love John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd but there roles in this film are very unnecessary. They are not really funny or entertaining to watch. This is unfortunate. Jay Roach really tried to make a good film, but I think he picked the wrong actors for this film. He shines in romantic comedies like Meet the Parents but he is trying to hard to make a Will Farrell film. It would have been much better with Adam McKay.

It's not all bad though. The scenes that are funny, are hilarious and make will make anyone with a sense of humor laugh. The film's pacing is very good and the chemistry between Farrell And Galifianakis is just perfect. In the end, if you go in the theater with an open mind and a sense of humor, you will enjoy it. Just don't expect another Step Brothers or Hangover.

The Campaign (2012) - He Just Punched a Baby!

[nickmesafilms · 7/10 · 24 August 2012]

Two comedic favorites Will Ferrell and Zach Galifanakis finally share the screen together in "The Campaign". Although being casted in their usual and cliché roles; Ferrell as a competitive mindless idiot that's considered the best at everything, and Galifanakis as a weird, but likable sweater vest-wearing dork; these two still share a decent chemistry in a movie that's although not a perfect comedy as you'd expect it to be, it's still a pretty decent comedy, that consistently hits the funny bone, sometimes in the right places. Ferrell plays Cam Brady, a presidential candidate that has never lost a single campaign in his life, and is now running for the fifth term. But then, out of the blue, to actually give Brady some competition, Galifanakis' Marty Huggins is volunteered to run for Congress. It then leads into one of the deadliest campaigns ever seen on the face of the earth. Although "The Campaign" doesn't reach the level of complete comedic gold, director Jay Roach was able to bring in some consistent funny moments that are more worthy of a giggle, rather than "bursting to tears" kind of laughs. I was really expecting more from Will Ferrell, who seems to be tiring in his cliché role, and I felt that it was really hard to feel sympathy for this character, because he's the only un-likable person throughout. I guess I had more sympathy for Galifanakis' character, because not only was he funny, but he was also the only person that I actually cared about. But aside from the two male leads, Jason Sudeikis, Dylan McDermott, John Lithgow, Dan Aykroyd, and Brian Cox round up the supporting cast, most of them delivering some decent enough performances. I say most of them, because Dylan McDermott's contribution as Marty's campaign manager seemed wasted in the role, and didn't really steal the scenes as everyone said he would. I honestly think that this guy wasn't really that funny. Although half of the jokes sadly fall flat, the other half is filled with one hilarious scene after the next. From the scene with Marty Huggin's family at the dinner table, to Cam accidentally punching a baby at a campaign party. This proves that there are scenes that help save this movie from being a bad one. Although at it's noticeable flaws, "The Campaign" is still a decent and pretty funny movie that has a clear perspective on what it was trying to be. "The Campaign", in my review, "laughable and enjoying, but hardly anything special".

One of the most memorable comedies of '012

[StevePulaski · 7/10 · 11 August 2012]

Just when you thought the Obama/Romney election was the dirtiest off all time, in walks Jay Roach's The Campaign, a sly and unassuming venture into the world of politics, weaving satire and sweetness in for welcomed entertainment. Not long ago, I watched Andrew Fleming's Dick, a clever satire on Richard Nixon's presidency and how two dim-witted teenage girls managed to uncover the Watergate scandal and beat him at his own game. The Campaign doesn't exceed those heights in surprises and observantly funny comedy, but it will provide most moviegoers with sufficient weekend entertainment. And in downtimes like the ones currently upon us, we should try and seek out those films.

The plot concerns Democratic Congressman Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) of North Carolina's fourteenth district, who is running for a fifth term unopposed. His numbers, however, are currently down after he leaves a vulgar voice message on a local family's phone about his recent sexual encounter and his affair with a supporter. In the meantime, corrupt business brothers, Glen (John Lithgow) and Wade Motch (Dan Aykroyd) convince local naive tour guide Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis), who is loved by pretty much every person he runs into, to challenge Brady as the Republican candidate so that they can make illegal money off of a Chinese company. Marty agrees and Brady now has a race on his hands.

We then venture into the obligatory mud-slinging each side does and how their views have shaped their person overall. One of the most interesting subtle side characters I've seen in a long time is Jason Sudeikis's Mitch, Brady's "yes man" for everything, while Huggins is mainly coached by the pushy, uncompromising Tim Wattley, played viciously by Dylan McDermott.

When the mud-slinging goes underway, the jokes become hit or miss. Some instances stretch incredulity to unprecedented lengths, but I believe the reason behind it is to say something. Look where we've been in the political world in the last few years; the Clinton scandal, Obama's birth certificate, and if you want to get even more specific; the Anthony Weiner scandal which everyone loved to talk about a year ago, but now, it takes a minute for the name to ring a bell. Controversies have now been about anything and everything, and with that in mind, The Campaign doesn't seem so incredulous.

On another note, it's a shame the film doesn't dive into some true satire heights by taking shots at both Republicans and Democrats alike. It seems that if you are going to make a comedy centered around politics in the year 2012, you should try to take some shots at both political parties and go as far as you possibly can, but The Campaign's centrist view on the entire issue and the bigger picture is a bit underwhelming. Certainly both parties are flawed and equally arbitrary on the basis of their own terms and that alone could've inspired a film that was equal parts satire and relevant humor.

Regardless, this is certainly a better Ferrell-vehicle than Casa De Mi Padre or Old School several years back. I too feel people who aren't prepared to subject themselves to The Dictator's completely juvenile and limitless standards will seek this out as a means of easy-going fun. Ferrell immerses himself into the role of a goofy southerner effortlessly, and his fake accent is actually charming and tolerable throughout the film (perhaps I'm still grieving from Adam Sandler's in That's My Boy). Galifianakis perfectly suits his role, as well, and distinctively reminds me of Jack Black's Bernie Tiede in the tragically unseen comedy Bernie. This is a fun, tolerable comedy that doesn't rely too heavily on raunch and four letter words. A bit too much on animal abuse, but still mostly pleasing.

Starring: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis, Katherine LaNasa, Dylan McDermott, John Lithgow, Dan Aykroyd, and Brian Cox. Directed by: Jay Roach.

Not too bad - a decent parody of US politics

[grantss · 6/10 · 24 September 2016]

Cam Brady (played by Will Ferrell) is a veteran politician and congressman. However, the power-brokers/people with the money in his party decide that he is a liability to the party and find another candidate to run against him, Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis). The campaign is going to be a dirty one...

Not too bad. Has some very funny lines and scenes and does parody American politics quite well. However, it does get mired in empty sentimentality and sub-plots that go nowhere. Plus, neither of the contenders are likable, leaving no "hero" to support.

Good performance from Will Ferrell. Zach Galifianakis' character was particularly irritating, but hard to fault the performance too much. Good support from Jason Sudeikis and Dylan McDermott, plus from John Lithgow, Dan Aykroyd and Brian Cox in minor roles.

An enjoyable comedy

[Gordon-11 · 3 September 2013]

This film is about a race between two congressman candidates in North Carolina.

"The Campaign" is a fun and light hearted mockery of modern American politics, but it is also surprisingly real in terms of what could possibly happen in a real election campaign. The plot is funny and really gets me laughing, but I am the most impressed by the emotional ending that conveys a victory to morality. Another thing that really stands out is the Asian maid who speaks with an amazing African and also Spanish accent.

I enjoyed watching this film!

Good easy watching comedy

[tinohann · 7/10 · 5 November 2019]

Not too long, doesn't take itself too seriously and very funny, especially considering the current politically climate.

It tells the bizarre story of two insane candidates who are both running in the congressional race for the fourteenth district of North Carolina.

[ciera-larose · 4/10 · 22 April 2013]

"The Campaign" is your classic Will Ferral, Zack Galifianakis, over the top raunchy comedy. But in all honesty, I was actually quite let down with this one. I found the whole film to be really quite ridiculous.

The plot of this movie was far too unbelievable for me. It tells the bizarre story of two completely insane candidates at opposite extremes who are both running in the congressional race for the fourteenth district of North Carolina. The wacky antics that these two were up to during the election were just crazy; they were too far fetched and therefore diminished the value of the political satire effect that they were going for.

Both of the main characters were quite similar in the sense that they were both stupid and unoriginal. I firmly believe that poor Zack Galifianakis is officially type-cast and will have a very difficult time breaking away from the stupid and naive characters he's always forced to portray. Will Ferral was very vulgar and raunchy in this movie, something that he's used to playing as well. I really hope that these two actors can break their cycles soon because if that's the type of acting were going to be subjected to in every movie, I think I'll just stop paying attention to them. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the acting of Jason Sudeikis. He did the best he could with what he was given. The role as a little out there and he had a lot to deal with but he handled it well. I will admit that he and Ferral did have some pretty good on screen chemistry.

To conclude, this movie could have and should have been a lot better. It had some big names hen it comes to the comedy genre -Ferral, Galifianakis and Sudeikis; so it should have been really funny. In my opinion, it wasn't. Don't get me wrong, there are a handful of genuinely funny scenes that served as a few good laughs. But with names like these involved, there should have been far more. This film tried to be both a political satire and a goofy comedy but in reality became a muddled mess and fell short delivering on both accounts.

In my opinion, it's really not that funny so if you're looking for a good laugh, this is a film that you should steer clear of.

The Campaign...2.5 out of 4 Skittles

[FilmStallion · 6/10 · 6 September 2012]

t seems like it should be easy to make a funny movie about the state of our political climate….rich, greedy, corrupt people spending millions of dollars to make television ads that spread blatant lies to the uninformed voting public, but The Campaign ends up feeling a bit underwhelming of what could have been.

Screenwriters Chris Henchy & Shawn Harwell only scratched the surface of the real life hilarity of the current political landscape. All they had to do was turn on any TV news channel and take note of the circus that current politics have become…from former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to Weiner-Gate to…well…Sarah Palin, but for Chris Henchy, the writer of past stinkers Land of the Lost and The Other Guys, I guess that is what should be expected.

Will Ferrell (Step Brothers, Anchorman) and Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover, Due Date) make a fine comedic duo, but their one-note characters leave these candidates without much to say. Ferrell ends up doing a less funny version of his George W. Bush impersonation. His iconic character was a slam-dunk on short SNL skits, but runs thin in a feature film.

The Campaign definitely provides its share of laughs that keep this film above average, but doesn't live up to other classic films produced by Ferrell and Adam McKay's Gary Sanchez production company…I.E. Step Brothers, Anchorman, Talladega Nights. The Campaign may end up being one of the most profitable comedies of the 2012 blockbuster season, but compared against the other duds Hollywood barfed out this summer (The Watch, That's My Boy, The Dictator) that isn't saying too much.

For more quick reviews check out www.FilmStallion.com

A Nutshell Review: The Campaign

[DICK STEEL · 7/10 · 1 September 2012]

With the US Presidential Elections gaining traction and going into its final leg before the polls in November, it's probably natural that a comedy about American politics gets released into the cinemas to capitalize on election fever, as well as to lampoon the various strategies, and poke fun on the candidates who would be more than inclined to say the darnedest things that don't make too much sense, or to behave in a hypocritical manner, all of which are fodder to be made fun of.

Directed by Jay Roach, who is no stranger to those who enjoy the trilogy of Austin Powers films, The Campaign put two current funny men together, and watch them explode as they rib each other to shreds as part of the political hustings to garner more votes by discrediting the other. It's never more than just to share one's plans for the electorate when elected, or to reveal and convince them of one's programs, but to take the more interesting approach to character assassinate, and utilize the power of the media, and one's carefully built persona as perception for the voting public.

Comedy aside, this film lays down very real issues and problems with politics anywhere around the world, and that is more worrying, whether the right people are shunning serving the community, and the wrong people with the wrong motives seeking office instead, so as to further the reserves in their coffers, or that of their supporters with the tacit understanding that the interests of those who had backed one's campaign should be looked on favourably, with any meeting conducted to discuss these terms deemed never having been convened. Corporations are also seen as shady organizations when they contribute to campaign funds, and in truth with money talking these days, can make or hurt politicians chances by playing up or down their capabilities or screw ups. It's been some time seeing Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow on screen, and here they play unscrupulous businessmen who are looking at in- sourcing and exploitation of cheap labour, selling out their state/country once they have their preferred candidate occupy office.

As you would have learnt from the trailer, The Campaign pits Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis as two politicians getting at each others throats from the get go. For the former, as Democratic incumbent Cam Brady, unopposed for the most parts of his career given walkovers, his seeking office probably had to do with the satiation of his sexual desires, with a major boo boo involving a dirty message left on someone else's answering machine doing him in. As for Galifianakos' Marty Huggins, he got plucked out of obscurity just because he happens to be the son of a well known, but retired politician, and got thrust into the limelight having sold the idea of doing his father proud, and to lend a hand doing something worthwhile for society.

So it's a fight that's filled with plenty of dirty tricks, mostly centered around character assassination from both camps in tit for tat fashion, providing ammunition for its comedic scenes. The gloves are off in a no holds barred, winner takes all competition that has absolutely no rules, with either side eager to jump on discrediting the opposition camp. And the campaign managers, played by Jason Sudeikis and Dylan McDermott who belong to the Cam Brady and Marty Huggins camps respectively, are hugely responsible for that. The last film seen with campaign managers playing a big part is in George Clooney's Ides of March, with almost the same level of seriousness and intensity seen in The Campaign, especially Dylan McDermott's Tim Wattley who has to build Marty's popularity from scratch, and create a credible candidate out of a dim wit.

For those who appreciate the other Jay Roach comedies, expect the usual toilet humour, and plenty of f-bombs creeping their way into the film. Will Ferrell is also at his element here as the politician who cannot stand losing, blessed with a trophy family, and his pairing with Galifianakis proved to be successful, especially during scenes which they share and have to go one up against the other. Galifianakis continues in his usual roles as none too bright characters having a ball of a time, and here his story arc provided for a little bit of a melodrama, which I thought was a nice touch and a break from the comedy, serving as reminder that family matters, and should take priority rather than being shelved aside for ambition. Or worse, to pretend to lead a lifestyle just because it has the consensus of the majority.

The Campaign runs at a very light 85 minutes, although it did feel a little longer than that, especially in the final few scenes that dwelled into back stories built up to provide a little bit more character motivation and common history. Still, it's entertaining, funny for the most parts, and relevant, and if we don't have much power to change the rot at the polls, the least we can do is to laugh at it. Which is certainly more fun by the way.

Brilliant

[jason31-321-904744 · 11 October 2012]

10/10 for comedy for me and I love the way they have pulled no punches at taking the Michael out of US politicians. Ferrell is at his funniest here but it's Galifianakis that steals every scene he is simply hilarious in this movie. For me ferrell is just doing a good impression of Bush JR in this movie haha and spot on he is too. Showing how dumb the voters are is genius and how corrupt the system is, The actors must of been willing to do this movie for free! I doubt many Americans would even see this but oh so obvious to us UK viewers. This is Ferrells second funniest movie behind Step Brothers so if you enjoyed that very silly movie but ultimately hilarious then make sure to watch this too.

Galifianakis and Ferrell a winning team

[cadillac20 · 7/10 · 10 August 2012]

The Campaign seems to be the underdog this weekend, the lesser of the two films coming out, with Bourne Legacy being the leading contender. However, I must say that The Campaign is quite worthy as it's one of the funnier films this year so far. Galifianakis and Ferrell are hilarious, with Zach truly shining in a role that goes somewhat against his usual. Both stars, however, let their comedic talents shine, as does who hasn't made a film this funny since Meet The Parents. It's a surprise hit, and contains both plenty of political lampooning and crude material to please even the least political of comedy watchers.

Ferrell plays Cam Brady, a slimy politician who has run unopposed as North Carolina's representative for five elections. However, when controversy strikes Cam's campaign and his popularity drops, the influential Motch Brothers (in a parody of the vilified Koch Brothers), with an agenda of their own, look for someone to run against Cam and find Galifianakis' Marty Huggins as their sucker. Thus begins a battle between the awkward Huggins and the smarmy Brady to win the election.

Ferrell does what he does best here and plays up his role to hysterics. There's plenty of outrageous behavior here and freaking out. If you're not a fan of Ferrell, then you probably won't like this role either, as it's much the same. Galifianakis is much the opposite, a bit of a straight man who comes off as somewhat socially inept and awkward, although his heart is certainly in the right place. The two bounce off each other wonderfully and the comedy is absolutely hilarious. They are surrounded by a fantastic comedic cast, including Brian Cox, John Lithgow, and Dan Akroyd, who are all very funny in their respective roles.

The acting is certainly great, but it would be nothing without a great script, and this is surprisingly good. It's not as high brow or biting as you might expect a political satire to be, but it makes no qualms about pointing fingers and laughing at the ridiculousness of many elements within politics. Most of the satire is pretty ridiculous, from a pornographic PAC ad to several confessions by Higgins family. But it's all very funny and reaches into the sentiments of how most American's view the political landscape right now. Thankfully, the trailers didn't reveal even the funniest parts of the film, and I have to admit I laughed consistently throughout.

Certainly, it's not a perfect comedy and doesn't take the place of my favorite comedy of the year so far (that would be 21 Jump Street). The middle begins to lose a little steam and the satire loses a bit of it's laugh out loud appeal. This is partly due to the fact that both Galifianakis and Ferrell don't entirely retain their ability to carry the comedy. But it's very minor, as they more often that not do carry the entire film and do a very good job of it. With a balance between crass, shocking humor and smart, yet simple, political satire, The Campaign accomplishes it's goal of being very funny.

Good, if not great

[zetes · 7/10 · 12 August 2012]

A decent comedy featuring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis as two men running for Congressman of a South Carolina district. Ferrell is the incumbent, a Democrat who is at first running unopposed, but when he is exposed as a sex fiend, two powerful industrialists (Dan Akroyd and John Lithgow, playing the Motch Brothers, parodying the notorious Koch Brothers, who have stupidly bitched about the movie in the media) decide to throw a bunch of money at a Republican opponent. The only person they can find is Zach Galifianakis, a goofy guy with a very normal family and a couple of pugs with which he's obsessed. Things get nasty pretty quickly as Ferrell spies his opponent's weaknesses, and the Motch Brothers respond in kind by sending an evil campaign runner (Dylan McDermott) to groom Galifianakis in dirty politics. This film starts off pretty well, with some huge laughs (particularly the scene where Galifianakis' family admits all the dirty secrets they've been hiding from him), but after a while it kind of fades. It's always pretty funny, but it's almost never hilarious in the latter half. It seems to want to be a biting satire, but it's really not saying anything truly daring, so that never gets off the ground. Ferrell and Galifianakis both give very good performances, but about the only other actor to score any laughs is McDermott. Jason Sudeikis plays Will Ferrell's campaign runner, but has little to do. Lithgow and Akroyd seem like a waste, too, and one wonders why they bothered to hire Brian Cox as Galifianakis' dad (he does have one good scene near the beginning. I did like Karen Maruyama as Cox's Asian maid, whom he pays $50 a day extra to talk like an old-timey black woman. And Sarah Baker is pretty good as Galifianakis' wife. All in all, I did like the film, but I could have waited for video.

Should have just walked out...

[Rebeccamshaver · 2/10 · 10 August 2012]

This was a wasted opportunity. Will Farrell has brought forth some great humor in movies with an added message of truth. However, this time the mark was missed. 'Politics as usual,' was a great start for a box office hit, especially in an election year, and this held all the ideas to make it happen. It could have been gut-busting hilarious, but the execution of film making was drastically short for the plot's potential and casted talent.

While there were some very good laughs, the rampant smut quickly wicked a lot of laughter from the theater. The pull to 'look away' distracted and overcame the anticipation for the next chuckle. Comedies should make us laugh, and perhaps think about the topics and subjects being mocked. It is even a useful venue for starting discussions on otherwise untouchable issues like politics, religion, sex, and divorce. The presentation of irony, sarcasm and good writing for a memorable classic were all but entirely replaced with empty, humiliating smut. The actors and makers took an easy out for a quick buck instead of delivering what movie-goers expect and deserve. If we pay them, they should deliver. Now I can't get my money or time back and I have encouraged the junk effort to continue. It's like celebrity welfare.

When we buy a ticket or product for an advertisement we view on TV, we should get what we were shown. The Compaign left viewers obviously disappointed and thirsting for the comedies we can recommend to anyone and everyone, as well as to stock the home DVD rack.

The dark art of politics

[freemantle_uk · 7/10 · 5 October 2012]

It is election year in the United States where the President, the whole of the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate stand for election. American politics is notorious for being very bitter and negative: so it seems like a fair target for a comedy.

Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) is a four term Democratic representative of the 14th district of North Carolina, based around the city of Hampton. He is running unopposed for the seat but he is in trouble after he accidentally leaves a sexually explicit message on a born-again Christian family's answering machine. His backers, the industrialists the Motch brothers (John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd) decides that Cam is a dud and set out to find a someone to run against him. They find the nice, but naïve and weird Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis) to run as a Republican. The campaign quickly descends into false accusations, personal attacks and physical violence. But the Motch brothers have their own dastardly plan for Hampton.

The Campaign is a hit and miss comedy, but it is mostly hit. Ferrell is the best comic performer out of the pair but both comic leads have their moments. The jokes vary from verbal, crude and swearing based, Ferrell's trademarked adlibbing and physical: the biggest laugh in the audience I was in was when the baby got punched in the face. As a political satire this is a film that lacks subtly, but to anyone who is interested in American politics you can easily see the references to negative campaigning, making false accusations that someone is a communist/socialist or an Islamic terrorist just through implication, how candidates just use any rhetoric to get elected without actually having any ideas or policies and how political campaign teams think more about image then they do about doing what they think is best for the district and the country. I personally thought the film missed a trick because I think the filmmakers should not have mentioned the political parties the candidates represented and so you could not tell them apart.

The Campaign runs at a brisk 85 minutes, but near the end the film felt like it running out of steam, both story and jokes wise, near the end. The writing was not smart enough when it could have been more ambitious with its satire.

It is still an enjoyable enough film for people who are fans of Will Ferrell and it is at least worth a rental.

Downright unfunny.

[Troy_Campbell · 2/10 · 9 August 2012]

I'm not sure where to start. I'll go back to the beginning. One fine Thursday night I was settling down to watch Ted on the big screen, when on came a trailer for The Campaign. I chuckled a few times and was confident that further hilarity would ensue in the actual feature. All signs were promising. All signs were wrong, dead wrong. This crude political satire is neither witty nor biting, but most awful of all, it's downright unfunny. In what gets earmarked as 2012's biggest disappointment (so far), the potentially side-splitting combination of Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis is yawn-inducing at best, cringe-worthy at worst; neither comedian walking away with a solitary laugh. Of all people it's Dylan McDermott that gets a couple of amusing moments, his shady and ruthless campaign manager a welcome respite from the embarrassing blandness of the leads and other co-stars John Lithgow, Dan Aykroyd and Brian Cox. The campaign slogan for Galifianakis' bumbling Marty Huggins sums this film up most accurately: "It's a mess".

Crude and stupid....and most enjoyable.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 16 September 2021]

"The Campaign" is not a film to show your kids, your mother or Father O'Malley if he stops by for the evening. Why? Because the film is incredibly crude and despite no nudity and only a little bit of violence (such as when a baby and Uggie the dog are punched in the face), it earns its R rating because it is so crude. All that being said, it is still a very enjoyable film...and worth seeing. Just don't tell others, because they might think less of you.

The film is about a fictional congressional election between a dumb, sleazy womanizing incumbent (Will Ferrell) and a dumb, not as sleazy and very effeminate newbie (Zach Galifianakis). As the campaign progresses, the rhetoric between the pair becomes more and more sleazy and awful...to the point where it's simply ludicrous late in the story. Who will win and what about those rich jerks pulling the strings in this election?

As I mentioned above, the film is very crude and adult....watch it at your own risk. But it also is funny and offers some interesting insights into American politics.

Hopefully viewers who are fence sitters or leaning to the right might learn some valuable lessons from the film (one can hope).

[Hellmant · 7/10 · 22 August 2012]

'THE CAMPAIGN': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis combine forces for this political satire attempting to throw some comedic commentary at audiences this election season. Ferrell plays a North Carolina congressman running for his 5th term unopposed when two corrupt businessmen try to unseat him by pitting him against a naive tourism director who always had dreams of a career in politics, played by Galifianakis. The film was directed by Jay Roach (director of all three 'AUSTIN POWERS' films and the first two of the 'MEET THE PARENTS' franchise) and written by Chris Henchy and Shawn Harwell (one of the writers of the TV series 'EASTBOUND & DOWN'). It was produced by Ferrell, Roach, Galifianakis and Adam McKay and co-stars Jason Sudeikis, Dan Aykroyd, John Lithgow, Brian Cox and Dylan McDermott. The film is funny for the most part and does have some on target political commentary. Not as classic as some of Ferrell's greatest comedies but one of his better ones for sure.

Ferrell plays Democratic Congressman Cam Brady, who as the film opens is getting ready to secure his fifth term in North Carolina's 14th District unopposed. A sex scandal hurts his popularity though and two greedy businessmen named Glen (Lithgow) and Wade Motch (Aykroyd) see an opportunity to unseat him and put a naive tourism director, named Marty Huggins (Zak Galifianakis), in his place to do their bidding for them (which involves illegal business with Chinese corporations). What starts out as a friendly campaign duel turns in to a heated battle very quickly with all the name calling and ugly accusations you'd expect from a big time political election. This causes havoc on both the men's private lives including heavy drama with their families.

The movie's jokes are somewhat hit-and-miss but for the most part work. They're vulgar but not overly dumbed down; neither Ferrell nor Galifianakis ever break character or overact (like what often happens in comedy satires like these). The film is of course supposed to be funny and lighthearted but the messages of the story are very serious and clear. The Motch brothers are obviously an intended diss at corrupt businessmen Charles and David Kotch (who Galiafanakis recently annoyed by calling creepy). Hopefully viewers who are fence sitters or leaning to the right might learn some valuable lessons from the film (one can hope). This is where the film's greatest strengths lie but it is pretty funny as well.

Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2vhN3UBteY

A lack of Art and a Lot of Quasi-porn

[carpedtm · 2/10 · 15 September 2012]

The film had a chance to be a thoughtful satire on the societal impact of money on politics and issues such as the outsourcing of American jobs, not to mention the growing separation between the political class and the public.

It settled for a host of clichés.

Instead, it contented itself in pandering to elite prejudices. Christians and Southerners are ignorant, and they are hypocrites. Their children, are even more ignorant and more perverse.

MSNBC and CNN make cameo appearances lending their support to these notions.

The language is unnecessarily crude,lewd and indecent. I am no prude, but this film often seemed just a lot of tasteless potty talk masquerading as humor.

Too bad. There are one or two clever skits. Net Net: Don't waste your money. I was once a Democrat. Later a Republican, still conservative with a small "c." I am a registered independent.

Diverse Comedy, Same Old Ferrell and Zach G.

[rgkarim · 7/10 · 11 August 2012]

If action isn't your cup of tea, then chances are you chose the comedy film that came out this weekend entitled The Campaign. In case you haven't heard about this film, it's essentially two unlikely candidates Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) and Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis) running for the North Carolina Delicate position. With the ballads cast, the two Carolinians decide to go at each other's throats until only one man is left standing. Who will be the winner? Is there any other plot to this already pathetic plot? Should you care to see it in theaters? Read on to find out.

So if you think the plot sounds familiar, you'd be right as this is essentially what every election is about in this modern age. Warner Bros. decided to make fun of current day political campaigns by adding the two, for lack of a better word, eccentric actors to poke, prod, and utterly slap politicians in the face. Ferrell in particular seemed to have been chosen for mirroring the corrupt, egotistical, self-involved side of the politicians, as he had his eyes on one thing winning. To no surprise, he did a nice job playing the jackass once more, capturing every detail to the letter as if it were his natural self. Fans of the former SNL star's overacting will once again be laughing their heads in every scene with Ferrell as he talks like Ricky Bobby, gives his wide eye stare like Elf, and makes some pretty perverted jokes that cross the lines. I'll admit now I didn't find him that funny, but that's because his material has grown stale on me for some time now and I just don't care for him. Regardless, Ferrell will keep his devoted fans pleased with his naïve stupid character and his irrational, though sometimes funny, political strikes.

Instead the candidate I found to be more humorous was Galifianakis. The Hangover star still has a natural tendency to make people laugh and this film is no different. His character mimics the eager politician who goes in for the right reasons, but succumbs to the "outside" factors that supposedly have no influence on politics. Regardless Zach's ability to play awkward characters really shines in this movie, as Mr. Huggins is indeed awkward. The innocence of Marty is childlike and seeing him approach more adult situations put him in some interesting situations that were rather funny to watch. His reactions to his campaign manager's constant demands involve many goofy faces, random catch phrases, and some well delivered cursing that had me in stitches. What might be even more satisfying is the rivalry between Ferrell and Galifianakis has a lot of dreamed up antics come true. I won't reveal who gets the better of whom, but if you have distaste for any one of these actors, well you'll see them take a few hits now and then. Even Marty's family opens up some ground for laughs, but it's really only one scene that kind of does a rapid introduction to Marty.

However there is a shock factor to this movie that I did not see coming. I'll warn you now that a lot of scenes were edited in the trailer that was not as audience friendly in the theater. Many simple insults and teenager terminology was replaced with more vulgar comments, some of which were not needed. A few of the acts of violence were also more extreme in the actual movie and while they were funny at times, there were times where this kind of humor overstepped some boundaries. There were even some intense romance scenes were also a little awkward to see as well, especially a rather dirty message to an unsuspecting family, which is funny on the situation, but not on the words. Those with high boundaries though, will probably be unfazed on a lot of these things though, especially if you like movies like "The Change Up and Horrible Bosses.

What else can I say about The Campaign? Well surprisingly for a comedy, there were some good messages built into the movie. Although the team was mainly humiliating many politicians, they also managed to open a lot of people's eyes to the deals made in the background. Seeing this corruption fuel the race may make one a little angry, but do not worry because in a comedy there are lots of good things that come from introducing this corruption. The production team also did a nice job on portraying the two character's families and how they can be a hindrance or a blessing depending on the character's morals. Again there are more laughs to be had, but it's nice to see a comedy where the characters have some other character trait than extreme horniness. Who knows, maybe the politicians who come and see this film will actually see the light and do something with their jobs. Morals aside though, this comedy did a decent job integrating some media tools to help increase their joke variety. I may have laughed more at some of the media jargon and lingo than I did at either character, but that's just me.

Despite my initial doubts and judgments, the Campaign wasn't that bad. While Ferrell didn't impress me, Galifianakis managed to get me laughing a lot. Throw in the insults to the American politicians, the exaggerated stunts, intense rivalry, and characters with morals and you get a decent comedy. Is it comedy of the year like people are saying? Not really, and I think this movie is best saved for a rainy day and Netflix. Again be warned that some of the scenes have been severely altered from the trailer, so if you are planning on taking your younger kids take that into consideration. My scores for this movie are the following Comedy: 7.0-7.5 Movie Overall: 6.0-6.5

A Hilarious Political Rollercoaster

[sufyaanrashid95 · 6/10 · 7 October 2023]

Plot: "The Campaign" takes a satirical dive into the chaotic world of American politics, delivering a sharp and uproarious critique of the electoral process. The story revolves around two wildly contrasting candidates, Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) and Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis), who find themselves entangled in a cutthroat race for a North Carolina congressional seat. As the campaign progresses, both candidates resort to outrageous tactics, revealing the absurdity and absurdly entertaining nature of modern-day politics.

Review: "The Campaign" is a sidesplitting comedy that skillfully skewers the political landscape with its irreverent humor and brilliant performances. The film's plot cleverly explores the lengths to which politicians will go to secure victory, while also highlighting the influence of money, media, and personal scandals on the electoral process.

Will Ferrell delivers yet another stellar comedic performance as Cam Brady, a seasoned politician with a larger-than-life personality and an ego to match. His over-the-top antics and uninhibited dialogue provide a constant source of laughter. On the other hand, Zach Galifianakis brings his unique brand of awkward charm to the role of Marty Huggins, a naïve and eccentric candidate who becomes an unexpected contender in the race. The chemistry between Ferrell and Galifianakis is palpable, resulting in a dynamic on-screen pairing that amplifies the comedic moments.

Director Jay Roach masterfully balances the film's humor with its underlying political commentary, ensuring that "The Campaign" never loses sight of its satirical edge. The script is filled with witty one-liners, clever sight gags, and unexpected plot twists that keep the audience engaged from start to finish. The film's pacing is well-executed, maintaining a steady momentum that allows for seamless transitions between comedic set-pieces and character development.

While "The Campaign" primarily focuses on comedy, it also offers a sly critique of the flaws and absurdities within the American electoral system. Through its exaggerated scenarios and larger-than-life characters, the film highlights the impact of money in politics, the role of media manipulation, and the prevalence of personal scandals that often overshadow substantive policy discussions.

In conclusion, "The Campaign" is a hilarious and thought-provoking comedy that provides a welcome escape into the absurd world of politics. With its sharp writing, brilliant performances, and biting satire, the film delivers an entertaining and timely exploration of the political landscape. Whether you're a political junkie or simply in need of a good laugh, "The Campaign" is a must-see film that will leave you entertained and questioning the state of modern-day politics.

Comedy noir

[SlightlyMe · 5/10 · 26 December 2019]

Is actually funny, BUT... as a non American.. we actually see the politics of the US like this: for that reason I struggle seeing redeeming features.

...but it is funny.

A Pretty Good Skewering Of The System

[sddavis63 · 7/10 · 1 July 2013]

Good satire has to strike the difficult balance of being obviously satirical, and yet, at the same time, surprisingly (and perhaps frighteningly) realistic. Good satire is reality magnified to ridiculous extremes. For the most part, I have to say that "The Campaign" manages to rise to the status of good satire. While it's clearly a comedy - and not to be taken seriously at all - it does a magnificent job of lampooning all the troublesome aspects of American politics, and it makes you laugh at the absurdity of it all, while at the same time you shake your head because you know that behind the absurdity the movie is actually raising some very valid issues.

Will Ferrell plays Congressman Camden Brady. Brady is a four term Congressman, who expects to win a fifth term unopposed. He's grown complacent in Washington. As he himself eventually says, he doesn't really want to do anything or achieve anything, and he hardly ever votes and he never reads bills. He just likes being a Congressman. But he gets caught in a scandal a few weeks before election and his approval ratings drop. In response his big money corporate backers (John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd) drop him and turn to mild-mannered Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis) - a low key tourism booster for his local town, who they figure will be putty in their hands. Once Brady discovers that he's being opposed, the gloves come off, and Huggins gets a crash course in dirty politics, and turns out to be pretty good at it himself as Huggins and Brady go toe to toe all the way to election day, with no holds barred.

Pretty much everything gets skewered in this movie. Big money's dominance of the system, the problem of professional politicians, the lack of focus on issues as candidates decide to tear each other down personally, the makeover of candidates to make them seem as if they're someone they're really not, negative attack ads. You know it isn't real, but you see nevertheless see reality being reflected.

The two leads are both pretty good. I thought Galifianakis carried the movie, mind you. Ferrell was fine, but the character of Huggins was a more interesting character to watch as the movie went on, as he struggled with the good he wanted to do as a congressman, even while he was being turned into just another candidate by those pulling the strings.

This weakened a bit at the end by becoming (predictably, I suppose) too noble - and by doing that, it lost its satirical bite. Still, for most of the way through it's a pretty good job of skewering the system, and pointing out some of the deep flaws in American democracy. (7/10)

Script not worthy of the two stars

[jason-m-cook · 4/10 · 29 July 2013]

The comedy in this movie, such as it is, is weak and a little flat, which is something I didn't think I'd ever say about a film starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis. I chuckled a couple of times, but otherwise I felt no urge to laugh. There is a distinct bitter streak to the humor, with little heart to redeem it until one specific moment of unbelievable mood whiplash. The actors did fine, but they've had much better material in other vehicles (Ferrell in Anchorman and Galifianakis in The Hangover being just two notable examples).

It's a shame because I'd heard some good things about The Campaign, and with those two comedy stars it should have been something greater than the sum of its parts. Even something equal would have been good. This just didn't seem like the right movie to bring the two together.

The supporting cast was fine, though nobody really stood out from the pack. It was fun seeing Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow as the corrupt millionaire brothers, even if their plot seems to have been taken wholesale from Trading Places. Jason Sudeikis wisely plays his role with subtlety, in contrast to Ferrell and Galifianakis.

I guess The Campaign isn't the worst way to spend 85 minutes. But by the same token, I'm glad I didn't put down the money to see it in the theatre.

And the less said about the punching of the baby, the better.

A simple comedy that does its job.

[gordyh96 · 8/10 · 19 August 2012]

After reading many reviews, i have to agree that this is a technically a bad film. The humor in this movie is very raw and crude (which doesn't bother me), and it has a very simple storyline. I was ready to give this movie a rating of a 5 or below until i stopped looking into the movie too much, and saw it for what it is. The purpose of a comedy is to make people laugh, and that is exactly what myself and the rest of the theater did for the majority of the movie. The movie is so relevant as well with the upcoming presidential elections, and i feel this movie helps take the edge of the brutality of the current Obama vs. Romney.

If you just want to see a simple movie that will make you laugh without having to think about the plot, then see the movie.