THE CAMPAIGN
R
85 Minutes
Director: Jay Roach
Writers: Chris Henchy, Shawn Harwell
Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis
Fictitious debate between Bob Dole Thomas J. Whitmore, the president from INDEPENDENCE DAY.
Featured Thespians
Will Ferrell Cam Brady
Zach Galifianakis Marty Huggins
Jason Sudeikis Mitch
Dylan McDermott Tim Wattley
Katherine LaNasa Rose Brady
Sarah Baker Mitzi Huggins
John Lithgow Glenn Motch
Dan Aykroyd Wade Motch
So vote for me, because I don’t even want to go to college, and I don’t care, and as president I won’t do anything. The only promise I will make is that if elected I will immediately dismantle the student government, so that none of us will ever have to sit through one of these stupid assemblies again!
-ELECTION (1999)
Well it’s election season, you know what that means, I’m reviewing SWING VOTE…again.
Just kidding, but the real question: is THE CAMPAIGN better than Swing vote?
I’m not sure how to answer that. Kevin Costner does have an irresistible smile, and the bluest eyes you’ve ever seen. But I can’t judge a movie solely on how charming the lead actor is, how ever tempting it may be. Since I can’t be objective, I’ll refrain from comparing these two movies.
Political movies in an election year are always good. In 2004, we had CHASING LIBERTY, and FIRST DAUGHTER. Coincidentally, both had the same plot. You would have to go back almost 20 years to find a decent political comedy. FIRST KID (1994), starring Sinbad and Zachery Ty Bryan. It didn’t win any fancy awards, but it did win the electoral college…of my heart.
THE CAMPAIGN has more comedians than CONEHEADS and MAD-TV put together, which includes two of the funniest people on the planet. The characters were funny enough, but the movie itself was no laughing matter.
Will Ferrell does a composite of all the political characters he’s played in the past. And Zach takes his ‘Seth Galifianakis’ character and places him in this movie.
I understand this is a farce, but even Judd Apatow, himself, would tell you to tone it down a bit. In two separate scenes, Congressman Brady punches both a baby and the dog from THE ARTIST. There is only one truly hilarious scene, which involves Congressman Brady and Huggins wife.
The movie concept wasn’t fully thought out ahead of time; that’s what’s wrong with this film. That—and the other things I mentioned earlier in this review.
Seeing as I used a free movie ticket, I can’t ask for my money back. Because that’s how the movie ticket refund process works. So if you’re looking for good political humor, I suggest watching a session of congress on C-SPAN.
Final Verdict: Death By Electric Chair
I mean: 60 out of 100