No matter how dirty this election season gets, take comfort that it won’t come close to matching the shenanigans in “The Campaign.”
This R-rated takedown of American politics is everything you’d expect from stars Will Ferrell and Zack Galifianakis, including foul verbal hissy fits, sex, drugs and occasional fistfights with babies.
OK, minus that last one, “The Campaign” isn’t all that implausible.
Ferrell plays incumbent Democratic congressman Cam Brady, an obvious model of John Edwards with a dose of Ferrell’s hilarious George W. Bush inflection. He’s a huge horndog and speaks exclusively in vague buzz words on the campaign trail (“Jesus. Freedom. America.”)
Galifianakis is modest family man and lifelong Republican Marty Huggins, who is plucked by sinister corporate forces (embodied by Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow) to face Brady in the election. The powers-that-be think they can manipulate the unknown into literally selling part of North Carolina to China.
“The Campaign” is Ferrell at his debaucherous best as Brady slowly unravels when Huggins gains momentum in the polls. The rivalry extends into accusing each other of terrorism connections and “not being Christian enough,” leading to even more of Ferrell acting like a complete buffoon (the way we like him!)
Huggins is a strange invention with a distracting accent, and Galifianakis unfortunately doesn’t pull much funny out of it. Still, the character is oddly likeable, even as he foolishly follows the plans of his villainous handlers.
The movie is directed by Jay Roach, the man behind not just “Austin Powers” and “Meet the Parents,” but also the excellent political HBO films, “Recount” and “Game Change.” “The Campaign” is more “Austin Powers” in tone, but there are a few insights into our system that resonate on the eve of a national election.
Mostly “The Campaign” is your annual dose of larger-than-life Will Ferrell. For his fans, the laugh hit-miss ratio is pretty solid. The sporadic social commentary is just a bonus.
Grade: B+