I think that, living in Britain and being brought up on such classics as 'Yes, Minister' and 'The Thick of It,' the bar has been raised pretty high when it comes to political satire. The Campaign is about two political rivals, vying to be Senator in America. It's not as clever as either of the British TV shows; it's more low-brow and slapstick - definitely not as clever. However, it's still good in its own way.Will Ferrell is on form as one slimy Senator and Zach Galifianakis is equally amusing as his hapless and dopey rival. It's daft, enjoyable fun that anyone can enjoy with plenty of laugh out loud moments.It really doesn't matter who wins as the story comes secondary to seeing the two leads send up politicians in general for the lying, patronising, amoral, self-serving cads they are with their polished manufactured image and double-standards (I could go on).Maybe The Campaign is a sad sign of the times? Once upon a time politicians were respected figures of authority. Now they're so unpopular that they're easy fodder to be sent up - and we enjoy seeing them presented like this.It may not be a classic, but it has enough 'laugh out loud' moments to make it definitely worth a watch.

Okay so it could have been smarter but it's still pretty funny. Sure there are some obvious gags and the Bible Belt makes a easy target, but for those of us who aren't committed Republicans or Democrats it provides even-handed laughs. Ferrell plays a Ron Burgundy wannabee while Zack is ostensibly a family man though he camps it up massively, inviting speculation that he bats for the other side. Anyway it's a hoot, if a little crude at times. I've just had my review rejected because it was too concise and they want me to rabbit on for 10 lines, sorry about that, lah di dah blah blah what do you think about the mid- terms?

The Campaign is an uneven slapstick comedy about two polar-opposite candidates in a North Carolina district. Zach Galifianakis and Will Ferrell star as Cam Brady and Marty Huggins, respectively, one vying for an uncontested fifth term and the other a tourism director. Jay Roach, who directed the Austin Powers movies, is at the helm here.Cam Brady is a slick ladies' man, but when he accidentally leaves a (shall we say) ribald message on the answering machine of a devout family, his backers the Motch brothers think it's time some new blood was sent to Washington (on their behalf). Enter Marty Huggins, who displays none of the alpha-male characteristics one might expect from a politico, as his dad Raymond (Brian Cox) is an old hand at politics and a friend of the Motch brothers. Marty enters the race mainly to impress his jaded dad, who's always favored his other son Clay over Marty.Marty's quickly in over his head, but help arrives in the name of Tim Wattley (Dylan McDermott), who's sent by the Motches to be Marty's campaign manager. Wattley soon has rearranged Marty's life (new dogs, new furniture, new wall hangings, new haircut for his wife) and has instilled confidence and even some ferocity into Marty's normally placid personality. This helps Marty in the first candidates' debate.The Motch boys (Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow) are patterned directly after the Koch brothers, real-life political cronies, with the same business-first mentality. The brothers' aim is to place someone in Congress who they can get favors from, such as tax breaks and other incentives for their various factories.This is not a shrinking-violet movie. Whole lot of profanity, a lot of it funny and some of it even in good taste. The story may seem a little mean spirited to some - the trailer famously showed Ferrell's character punching a baby, sort of a no-no in politics - and truthfully there are times when the nastiness is a little over the top. Galifianakis and Ferrell are good enough to pull it off, but they can't work miracles. That said, there are some really funny scenes, including the debates, the fake commercials (which escalate in hostility), and really any interaction between the stars.But the movie is also often too maudlin and melodramatic; too much that could have been funny or at least sweetly sincere is instead blown up, stretching our credulity even further. One thing about this movie certainly does ring true, and that is that Big Money can win a campaign.

Because The Campaign is designed to be consumed and the wrapper (your ticket) tossed on the floor, there's very little I can say about it (a source of joy to my critics).I saw The Campaign in the summer of 2012. The benefit of writing a review almost two years later is that one can look back at what--if anything--was important in the film.Almost nothing.I laughed at Will Ferrell's buffoonery and Zach Galifanakis' fly-over-country innocence, but that was all. As with so many comedies that don't have the depth or breadth to sustain them after being seen, the funniest parts of the movie were hyped in the advertisements. Yet, seeing a matinée with my wife--and leaving the kid and critters at home for a few hours--was very pleasant.If you rent The Campaign, just be forewarned that you will be expected to pick up your wrapper instead of leaving it on the couch.