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.
Although only slightly more outrageous than reality, The Campaign is a funny, pacy peek behind the political curtain.
None of this is as funny, satirical or topical as the Mitt Romney farce currently playing on a TV near you.
The satire is as sharp as a slab of butter, the vulgarity is a bore, but the dog jokes are prime comedy filet. For a funnier political comedy, tune into the real US presidential election.
There are a few memorable jokes, but many more evaporate like so much antibacterial hand gel, never to be thought of again.
The cheesy note on which the film ends confirms its true level of subversiveness.
Even the stuff with the potential to be funny, such as the moment Brady accidentally socks a baby in the face, gets loused up as a slo-mo.
All sounds a bit déjà vu. Didn’t they make this in the late-'90s with Chris Farley and David Spade?
If you're solemnly looking for contemporary political observation, this isn't the film for you. But laughs come rolling off the production line a-plenty.
Subtle and sophisticated The Campaign is not. But it's irreverent, expertly acted by all and genuinely laugh-out-loud funny.
The Campaign gets by on its stars’ comic compatibility and a relentless stream of jokes, many of which are laugh-out-loud funny. The only real downer is the ending, which feels tacked on like a hanging chad.
Among the scatological knockabout there are two passable jokes, one about accidentally socking a baby, another about accidentally punching Uggie, the dog in The Artist.
Will Ferrell is on wicked goof-ball form as the entrenched incumbent Cam Brady whipping up one of his best characters.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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