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The Campaign
Starring: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Dan Aykroyd, John Lithgow, and Jason Sudekis
Synopsis: Though it feels like we’re constantly in election season — and the current Presidential election cycle feels like it’s lasted longer than the Cold War — we are really diving into the fray, as it were. The next three and a half months will be where the election is won or lost. So, it seems fitting that Hollywood jump right in and capitalize on the anti-election sentiment that seems to be pervading our nation. That is, unless you work for CNN. So, into the fray comes “The Campaign,” a send up of election season and a skewering of the political process itself. Though this film is a whacky comedy, “The Campaign” has plenty to say about the current state of American politics. And none of it is good. Director Jay Roach has had an interesting and varied career. He is no stranger to comedies, having worked on the “Austin Powers” and “Meet The Parents” franchises. But he’s also no stranger to political films. Roach directed a pair of excellent docudramas for HBO on the recent elections. “Recount,” which came out in 2008, chronicled the 2000 Presidential election. Meanwhile “Game Change,” which came out in the spring, chronicled the bungled John McCain-Sarah Palin campaign in 2008. With “The Campaign,” Roach mixes wild comedy with some biting political commentary. As a result of the mash up, however; neither aspect works well. The comedy is muted and a bit off kilter, and the political commentary doesn’t totally work either. This is a movie with a great deal of potential that seems to bite off more than it can chew. Writers Chris Henchy and Shawn Harwell can’t seem to decide what they want to do with this film. As a result, it’s a bit all over the board. While the early ads set it up to be a straight comedy about Ferrell and Galifianakis dueling each other in a fictional election, there is a lot more going on here that distracts from that. In addition, the tactics get more wild as both men go further over the line of believability, then the film tries to come in for a soft landing. It doesn’t work. The film does seem to point out some of the real problems in the American political system. There is no longer any control or regulation on campaign finance, which has opened the doors to people buying elections. The Motch brothers in the film are clearly meant to be a thinly veiled disguise for the real power brokers working behind the scenes in elections throughout our country. But when played off for laughs, it undermines that serious message. The film also seems to want to have its cake and eat it too in terms of what it says about political strategy. While it seems to be indicating that politicians too freely and easily cross the line in the name of winning at all costs, the film uses those crossed lines to ramp up the easy laughs. One can’t help but wonder, in this muddled presentation, what message the filmmakers want the audience to take away. But, seeing as how this is a comedy, clearly the ultimate goal is laughs. In that way, the film adopts the same ends justify the means rationale that our politicians use in political campaigns. Perhaps that’s fitting given our cultural and political climate. “The Campaign” is a film that has great potential, seemingly lofty ambitions, and a talented cast. All that coalesces into a mildly amusing, mildly thought-provoking, and mildly disappointing 90 minutes. That, too, seems fitting to our current cultural and political climate.
Rating: R for crude sexual content, language and brief nudity. Enter with caution.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

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