Crack up with Cam and Marty in ‘The Campaign’

‘The Campaign’, starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis, is a hilarious comedic spin on American politics. Cam Brady (Ferrell) is a corrupt long-term Congressman who is challenged by naive Marty Huggins (Galifianakis). Two incredibly wealthy CEOs push Marty to great lengths in an attempt to defeat Cam in the upcoming elections to gain more power in the North Carolina district. This movie has hilarious situations that become steadily more ridiculous, including Cam accidentally punching a baby (twice) and Marty shooting Cam in the leg with a rifle.
When thinking of other Ferrell movies like ‘Anchorman’, ‘Land of the Lost’ or ‘Blades of Glory’, this movie does not disappoint. It was a fun, easy-to-follow comedy and was just right for ending the summer movie season.
Ferrell makes his character such an arrogant arse that it’s hard not to root for him. Marty as the protagonist is lovable in his lack of style and naivety. He find pleasure in simple, goofy things like his Chinese pugs or sweater vests. Marty commits some pretty bad mistakes, and at times you’re not sure whether you like any of the characters because they all are such morons.
Both Ferrell and Galifianakis do an excellent job in this movie. They play off each other very well. There are quite a few dumb and cheesy jokes, but the scene quickly recovers and moves on, making it even more enjoyable.
‘The Campaign’ works well as a ridiculous satire of American politics. American politics lately seem to be just as ridiculous as the movie projects. Many politicians are more concerned about their public image than what they represent for the people.
An underlying message in this movie is this: Big money means more power. The CEOs supporting and endorsing Marty want to use him to make a profit. They have all the money, so they have most of the say-so in what happens in elections.
The same goes for actual politics. Wealthy billionaires and celebrities have a larger voice in government than the people. Big corporations and industries have enough money to endorse the politicians they favor.
The movie makes sure the good guys triumphed over the bad ones, letting the people of the North Carolina district be happy and keep their environment safe. Although that part is super cheesy, it really adds to the humor and makes you wish that politics really did work out that way in the end.
This movie gets a B+ for being a simple summer movie. It is pure entertainment and keeps the audience laughing through the entire show.