Village Voice
Like past-his-peak Perot, The Campaign is basically a footnote, a goof on our broken political system that's good for a certain novelty, but as a challenge to the dominant order? It's ultimately impotent.
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The Campaign
Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis are two competing South Carolina politicians who duke it out for congressional supremacy in this comedy, directed by Jay Roach (Austin Powers, Meet the Parents).
When long-term congressman Cam Brady (Ferrell) commits a major public gaffe before an upcoming election, a pair of ultra-wealthy CEOs plot to put up a rival candidate and gain influence over their North Carolina district. Their man: naïve Marty Huggins (Galifianakis), director of the local Tourism Center.
At first, Marty appears to be the unlikeliest choice but, with the help of his new benefactors, a cut-throat campaign manager and his family's political connections, he soon becomes a contender who gives Cam plenty to worry about.
2012Rating: MA15+, for crude sexual content, language and brief nudity85 minsUSA
Comedy
- Director:
- Jay Roach ('Austin Powers', 'Meet the Parent', 'Meet the Fockers', 'Dinner for Schmucks')
- Writer:
- Chris HenchyShawn Harwell
- Cast:
- Will FerrellZach GalifianakisJason SudeikisDylan McDermottBrian CoxJohn LithgowDan Aykroyd
The Campaign / Reviews
Variety
Roach, who also counts such lowbrow laffers as 'Austin Powers' and 'Meet the Fockers' on his resume, manages to keep things broad without sacrificing smarts.
Full reviewTime Out
There's no suspense, even as Galifianakis's bone-dry earnestness sometimes kicks the movie into a realm of stealth drama.
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Time Magazine
Four minutes of Bush on SNL is just right, but 85-minutes of Cam Brady feels like a lot, even with a strong supporting cast that includes Jason Sudeikis as Cam's campaign manager and Katherine LaNasa as Cam's picture-perfect, but mean-as-nails wife.
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The New York Times
Too soft and silly to be satire, too upbeat to be a cautionary tale, the film is a fun-house fable that both exaggerates and understates the absurdities of our democracy in this contentious election year.
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Hollywood Reporter
While leads Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis are amusingly on point as a pair of mud-slinging contenders for Congress, the platform is a wobbly political satire that flip-flops chaotically between clever and crass, never finding a sturdy comedic footing.
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Box Office Magazine
Think of it as someone making a peanut butter and chocolate swirl of Mad magazine and The New Yorker - two unique tastes making one great treat.
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