MOVIE OF THE WEEK #1 (8/10/12): THE CAMPAIGN
"You wanna show me that dance move again? I think I've almost got it!" Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis, far left) prepares to engage incumbent candidate Cam Brady (Will Ferrell, far right) as their campaign managers (Jason Sudeikis, wearing lanyard and Dylan McDermott) in a scene from director Jay Roach's election season comedy THE CAMPAIGN. Credit: Patti Perret © 2012 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Zach Galifianakis, Will Ferrell, Jason Sudeikis, Dylan McDermott, Brian Cox, John Lithgow, Dan Akyroyd, Sarah Baker and Katherine LaNasa
WRITER(S): Chris Henchy & Shawn Harwell (screenplay); Adam McKay, Chris Henchy andShawn Harwell (story)
DIRECTOR: Jay Roach
WEB SITE: http://thecampaignmovie.warnerbros.com/
THE PLOT: Arriving just in time for this fall's presidential election, The Campaign stars Will Ferrell as Cam Brady, a four-term incumbent Congressman in the fourteenth district in North Carolina. With his wife Rose (Katherine LaNasa) and his loyal to a fault campaign manager Mitch (Jason Sudeikis) by his side, Cam is running unopposed and looks to have his fifth term all but wrapped up. Then Cam suffers an embarrassing incident ... And that's when the Motch brothers (John Lithgow and Dan Akroyd) - two powerful businessmen seize the opportunity to back a candidate who will aide their own devious plans for the fourteenth district.
So, who is the Motch brothers prospective candidate? Well, it is the astute, rich (and retired) political operator Raymond Huggins (Bryan Cox) ... It's his son who doubles as the local director of tourism, Marty (Zach Galifianakis). And while Marty is very happy as a married yet naïve man, the Motch brothers are ready to whip him into shape under the tutelage of Tim Wattley (Dylan McDermott), who is willing to do whatever it takes to win - often to the dismay of Marty's wife Mitzi (Sarah Baker).
So what happens when a long-term Congressman takes on a small-timer who has the backing of two of the most powerful men in modern American business? If you want to know, quit debating and hit the theater!
So, who is the Motch brothers prospective candidate? Well, it is the astute, rich (and retired) political operator Raymond Huggins (Bryan Cox) ... It's his son who doubles as the local director of tourism, Marty (Zach Galifianakis). And while Marty is very happy as a married yet naïve man, the Motch brothers are ready to whip him into shape under the tutelage of Tim Wattley (Dylan McDermott), who is willing to do whatever it takes to win - often to the dismay of Marty's wife Mitzi (Sarah Baker).
So what happens when a long-term Congressman takes on a small-timer who has the backing of two of the most powerful men in modern American business? If you want to know, quit debating and hit the theater!
THE TAKE: There are a couple of things that should be said about The Campaign off the top. For one, if you're looking for some biting, political satire, you're looking in the wrong place. (Here's the trailer - I rest my case.) Second, given all the years Ferrell spent on Saturday Night Live imitating former president George W. Bush (not to mention that one man show he did that HBO aired), watching him play a ... controversial politican is kind of old hat at this point. Thus, while he's really not going (or trying) to break any new ground here as the lotharios Brady, he is going to bring the same level of acting pathos as he would do the ethos-lacking character his congressman is. Think of Brady as a mix of Ricky Bobby and Ron Burgundy and everything should begin to fall into place.
Likewise, while Galifianakis has shown some occasional dramatic acting chops, silly is what he does best and that is clearly evident in The Campaign. A North Carolina native himself, he bring a level of silliness to his ever-well meaning Marty without making a caricature out of the character.
So, can a movie that is somewhat predictable and doesn't really break any new ground in a genre we've seen parodied in various capacities before still be entertaining? Yes - and that is what ultimately saves The Campaign from going off the rails the way Howard Dean did when he infamously did this.
Much like the under-appreciated Chris Rock/Bernie Mac vehicle Head of State (which gave us not only this funny moment but this one as well - R.I.P. Bernie Mac & Nate Dogg), The Campaign may be a little goofy, but it's goodhearted and will make you laugh. Unlike the aforementioned Rock vehicle, though, there are no political/social ideals tossed around in The Campaign, just enough ridiculous moments to toe party lines on both sides well.
While the language at times (mostly on Ferrell's end) may be somewhat course, The Campaign is a fairly light-hearted (save for one random nipple) affair that achieves exactly what it sets out to be: A funny, simple movie about an easy to digest situation punched up a little by its stars' natural charms/talents. On a Farrell scale, it's more Blades of Glory than it is Anchorman or Talladega Nights, but it's still better than Semi-Pro.
On a Galifianakis scale, it's no Hangover (or Hangover 2, for that matter), but it's still miles ahead of Dinner for Schmucks and Due Date (the less said about the latter, the better). The jokes are more original than they are rehashed, the jokes hit when they need to hit and the film moves along at a brisk pace. Throw in some strong supporting comedy on the part of McDermott and Sudeikis and you have the makings for a great way to kill a Saturday afternoon/evening chuckling away your time ...
(Sidebar: How great is it than you can reference other movies and know people that are into the work of the actors of note will know exactly what you're talking about?)
Likewise, while Galifianakis has shown some occasional dramatic acting chops, silly is what he does best and that is clearly evident in The Campaign. A North Carolina native himself, he bring a level of silliness to his ever-well meaning Marty without making a caricature out of the character.
So, can a movie that is somewhat predictable and doesn't really break any new ground in a genre we've seen parodied in various capacities before still be entertaining? Yes - and that is what ultimately saves The Campaign from going off the rails the way Howard Dean did when he infamously did this.
Much like the under-appreciated Chris Rock/Bernie Mac vehicle Head of State (which gave us not only this funny moment but this one as well - R.I.P. Bernie Mac & Nate Dogg), The Campaign may be a little goofy, but it's goodhearted and will make you laugh. Unlike the aforementioned Rock vehicle, though, there are no political/social ideals tossed around in The Campaign, just enough ridiculous moments to toe party lines on both sides well.
While the language at times (mostly on Ferrell's end) may be somewhat course, The Campaign is a fairly light-hearted (save for one random nipple) affair that achieves exactly what it sets out to be: A funny, simple movie about an easy to digest situation punched up a little by its stars' natural charms/talents. On a Farrell scale, it's more Blades of Glory than it is Anchorman or Talladega Nights, but it's still better than Semi-Pro.
On a Galifianakis scale, it's no Hangover (or Hangover 2, for that matter), but it's still miles ahead of Dinner for Schmucks and Due Date (the less said about the latter, the better). The jokes are more original than they are rehashed, the jokes hit when they need to hit and the film moves along at a brisk pace. Throw in some strong supporting comedy on the part of McDermott and Sudeikis and you have the makings for a great way to kill a Saturday afternoon/evening chuckling away your time ...
(Sidebar: How great is it than you can reference other movies and know people that are into the work of the actors of note will know exactly what you're talking about?)
PARTING SHOT: A movie far more entertaining than any actual political races are likely to be, The Campaign is a legitimate comedy contender ... Even if it's only for the rest of the 2012 cinema term.
RATING (OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
Comments
Post a Comment