With Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis leading this comedy, I doubt whatever I say will have much bearing on whether people see it or not. These are two of the most popular comedians working today, and fans of either will not be disappointed with The Campaign.
It’s pretty much exactly what you expect from everyone involved: Ferrel swears and yells a whole lot, Galifianakis is awkwardly hilarious, and director Jay Roach sticks to the kind of jokes that worked with Austin Powers and Meet the Parents. And for some reason, the formula still works.
Basically, The Campaign is funny but not incredible. It’s definitely worth watching but it doesn’t warrant repeated viewing or constant quoting. In other words, it’s no Anchorman or The Hangover.
The premise is very much a reworking of Zoolander, except fashion is replaced with politics, and vanity is replaced with patriotism. At the centre of it all, two stupid men are forced into competition, but they’re really just puppets for big corporations who secretly want to exploit Asian labour laws.
Actually, the more I think about it, the plot is almost identical. But luckily most of the jokes are original, which is why it still works.
Ferrell and Galifianakis are what make this movie worth watching. They know their strengths and play them accordingly. In the end, it’s probably Ferrell who walks away with the most laughs, simply because of the political figures he’s mocking.
The support cast is also really impressive, especially considering that none of them are there for their comedic ability. They simply push the story along and provide fuel for the two leads.
Jason Sudeikis is perfect at Ferrell’s side, happily standing back as Ferrell goes over the top, and Dylan McDermott comes back to the big-screen, playing the smooth and conniving political advisor. There are also screen legends John Lithgow, Dan Aykroyd and Brian Cox, plus Australian comedian Josh Lawson.
All in all, fans of Ferrell and Galifianakis will get exactly what they want, as will anyone who just wants a few cheap laughs. But those who are expecting the smarts of a Zoolander or Anchorman will probably be a little disappointed.
