In time for the upcoming US presidential election comes "The Campaign", a comedy about the congressional race in the 14th District of North Carolina where the long-time Democrat incumbent Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) is facing his biggest challenge yet after a scandal shot down his popularity.
Two CEO brothers (Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow) with some huge business interests in the district decided to find an opponent that can beat up Brady and yet make him their back and call protecting their investments. They found that man in Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis) the local naive tourist guide who gladly accepted the challenge because he simply wanted to serve the district and make his father proud of him.
Directed by Jay Roach (Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers and the Austin Powers trilogy), it uses every possible gag that can be used in an election campaign and surprisingly it works. This is due to the fact that both Ferrell and Galifianakis have great chemistry. I can put this film along Ferrell's best (Talladega Nights, Anchorman and The Other Guys comes to my mind). Galifianakis is just doing a rehash of his role in Due Date (with the dog as props) and it compliments his character as the surprise opponent for Ferrell's Brady.
Jason Sudeikis plays it straight as Cam Brady's campaign manager and also the voice of reason. Dylan Mc Dermott is suavely evil as candidate Huggins' manipulator.If you love the jokes from the previous films of the two lead actors then by all means watch The Campaign.
Ferrell and Galifianakis make this material a whole lot funnier, but you can’t help but think that this could have almost been a comedic satire classic, had everybody decided to go down that route. Nice review Royce.
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