The Campaign movie poster. Over-the-top comic relief for serious business.


Never do we need comic relief more than in an election year. Granted the politicians give us plenty as it is but sometimes you need a film that pokes fun at all the things we love to hate about politics. The Campaign goes to extremes at times but still delivers a lot of laughs and sadly comes close to reality in many cases.

Congressman Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) has breezed through election after election simply because no one ever steps up to run against him. He is a career politician with bad decision making skills and a moral compass that is completely shattered. When a local business man and naïve do-gooder Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis) steps up to run against Cam; the race is on.

This film has everything that Ferrell fans want. An over-the-top character who is part egotistical womanizer Ron Burgundy, part foul mouthed Ricky Bobby, and 100% off-the-wall Will. Add to this the comic genius of Galifianakis (think Alan from The Hangover on valium) and you get a companion personality that is memorable, awkward, and straight out of Zack's closet of characters. Zack says that the inspiration for Marty came from a persona he created in high school who was an effeminate racist. That should tell you all you need to know.

The honest truth is that this film will offend pretty much anyone who can't watch it strictly for what it is. Just when you think they can't go any farther into the bazaar they blow your mind. But what makes it acceptable is that it is all geared around the political arena; something we all secretly want to make fun of. There is so much tension from both political parties that you sort of need this to bring everything into perspective. Laughter is an impeccable head clearer.

The Campaign is rated R for crude sexual content, language and brief nudity. The sexual antics of Cam Brady are raised to overdrive and his actions and dialogue are both vulgar and uncensored. The nudity is very brief but the language and crude comments are rampant. So be very sure you understand what you are in line for. If sophomoric crudeness is a waste of your money then you certainly will feel cheated here. But if you love the convergence of two masters of creative characters then you are in for a gold mine. I give this 3.5 out of 5 trash talkers. It is certainly not for everyone, but those it is made for will love it. And you know who you are.

3nhalf

Review copyright 2012 Mungleshow Productions. Used by Permission.

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