THE CAMPAIGN movie review

by Alexandra McClain
The Campaign, starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifinakis, serves as great comic relief during the current Obama and Romney political campaign. With such a timely release, this movie may be the only thing to laugh about in politics for the next three months.
Ferrell and Galifinakis play two political candidates who take mud-slinging to a whole new level. Galifinakis plays Marty Huggins who challenges incumbent candidate Cam Brady, played by Ferrell, who hasn’t had an opponent in years; until now. In this campaign neither opponent will stop at nothing to win, even if it means crossing a few lines of decency. These two buffoons are pulling out the big guns and are willing to win by any means necessary.
Despite the movie title, there’s not much political talk going on in the movie. But who’s surprised with two of Hollywood’s funny men being cast in the leading roles? This movie barely scrapes the surface of real political issues. It’s okay to put your brain in park with this one. Most of the issues addressed are vague and watered down, except for the idea that ‘big money is running politics in America’. The movie also proves that with just enough money, you can make anyone into a likeable candidate; even someone as unlikely as pug-loving, eccentric Marty Huggins.
Ultimately both candidates become puppets to their campaign managers saying whatever will get them the vote. Both characters share a list of typical catch phrases to fuel their campaign. There’s Cam Brady’s “America, Jesus and Freedom” along with Marty Huggins “It’s a mess.” The movie is sure to get plenty of laughs while watching the characters engage in the ultimate battle of “one-uppers.” When it seems like the movie might reach its climax with the over the top antics, it does manage to deliver a few subtle but softer moments with the characters.
The movie opened with a quote saying that politics doesn’t have rules. True indeed for in this film, all the attacks are personal, nothing political. This movie is all surface serving up the expected scandals, affairs, bad campaign ads and a baby kissing incident gone wrong. It’s more than likely everything you’d expect from Ferrell and Galfinakis while leaving no political stone unturned.