The movie The Campaign opens today and it’s one of the wildest, wacky, madcap, clever, and ingenious comedies of the year, and that’s only the first 30 minutes.  After that the film takes on words like hilarious, incredible and unbelievable.  Just in time for a major election it couldn’t have a better release date.  If you like the off-the-wall comedy in movies like Bridesmaids, Ted and Black Sheep for example, then cast your vote for The Campaign.

The very fast moving comedy opens with North Carolina congressman Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) blundering during an unopposed campaign causing his backers to take another look at the their candidate.  Fearing that Cam has gotten too big for his britches and will loose control of his voters brothers Glen (John Lithgow) and Wade (Dan Aykroyd) Motch, two wealthy corporate moguls, set up naïve Marty Huggins to run against him. Being an easy mark for their control over the important congressional district, the Motchs don’t waste any time in getting top-notch image-maker Tim Watley (Dylan McDermott) to groom Huggins for the campaign.  When things get out of control in the mud-slinging race the candidates reassess their positions.

Back on his ‘A’ game Will Ferrell makes The Campaign a sidesplitting movie that keeps on giving till its wild ending. Director Jay Roach (Meet the Fockers, Austin Powers) sets his sights for an adult audience that remembers Ferrell’s better outings like Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Step Brothers and Old School where this funnyman unleashes the wit that only he can deliver.  For me it’s great to see Ferrell back in true form and I await his next big project Anchorman 2.

Huggins (Galifianakis) and Brady (Ferrell) get physical in The Campaign

Roach buddies Ferrell up with Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover) much like his films with John C. Reilly (Step Brothers) and in The Campaign it works. The good guy vs. bad guy theme here has not lost it’s luster with Roach keeping the comedic timing at a high level between the two actors creating a laugh fest that never slows down.  With a very creative script by Chris Henchy (The Other Guys) and Shawn Harwell (East Bound and Down) the two comedy writers  provide some delirious humor that lightens the caustic atmosphere of our current grueling election year.

The Huggins family Sarah Baker, Kya Haywood, Zach Galifianakis and Grant Goodman

The first-rate support cast helps make The Campaign a winner adding some extremely awkward wit that makes the film work.  Both Brady’s family and that of Huggins are truly magnificent.  From Brady’s cunning adult minded teens to Huggins’ susceptible promiscuous sons the unsuspecting dads are a laugh riot. Add to the mix two excellent actresses in Katherine LaNasa playing Brady’s calculating wife Rose with Sarah Baker as Huggins God fearing spouse Mitzi and it’s a perfect recipe for laughter.

The Campaign has been rated R by the MPAA for crude sexual content, language and brief nudity.  For those who think they may take their impressionable children to a showing please head:  After watching the dinner scene at the Huggins home, as parents you may have some difficult questions to answer.

FINAL ANALYSIS:  A very funny movie for open-minded adults. (B)

Additional Film Information:

• Cast: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis, Katherine La Nasa, and Dylan McDermott
• Directed by: Jay Roach
• MPAA Rating: R for crude sexual content, language and brief nudity
• Genre: Comedy
• Running Time: 1 hour 37 minutes
• Opening Date: August 10, 2012
• Distributed by: Warner Bros. Distribution