THE CAMPAIGN
US, 2012, 85 minutes, Colour.
Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis, Dylan Mc Dermott, John Lithgow, Dan Aykroyd, Brian Cox.
Directed by Jay Roach.
2012, US election year and incessant, minder-controlled, media-driven, down and dirty campaigning. So, why not a topical comedy, hit and miss variety, funny and serious, a cross between the humour of skits on Saturday Night Live and the humour of movies like The Hangover?
Director Jay Roach is best known for the Austin Power spoofs as well as the Meet The Fockers series. But, in recent years, he has directed two significant HBO films on American politics, Recount (on the Bush- Gore confusion in Florida, 2000) and Game Change, a forceful look at the choice of Sarah Palin as John Mc Cain’s running partner and the campaign of 2008. He is obviously on the wavelength. This is a spoof, parody (with some serious criticisms, especially of billionaire manipulators of trade and industry and unlimited profits). There was a similar kind of film with Kevin Costner,
This is a Will Ferrell comedy. Ferrell never minds appearing as a fool or a slob, or both. He gets the chance here, as a North Carolina congressman, nominating for his district unopposed. He is a sleaze. Two brothers with more money than patriotism, John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd relishing their roles, decide that they need a stooge to buy up land, sell it to China and then build local sweatships to avoid transport. They choose the dumbest candidate, Marty Huggins, played by Zach Galifiniakis. Galifiniakis can be very funny or obnoxiously unfunny. This time he is very good. His is a role that might have starred Jack Black, and it looks as though Galifiniakis has seen Black’s excellent performance in Bernie and taken over some of the mannerisms and body language.
The campaign is rough as Brady wants to win at all costs (and produces foul TV ads and behaves accordingly). However, his manager, Jason Sudeikis (who can be crass as in Horrible Bosses but is decency in this one) can’t support him. Meanwhile, sinister Dermot Mulroney controls Marty, making him play the dirty game. But, of course, Marty, we know, will rebel, and there will be an honorable ending (even more than anticipated).
Yes, a lot of the film is quite vulgar. But, a lot of it is very funny (especially a Chinese housekeeper whose boss wants her to speak like an old Southern mammy to remember the past, and who has the final word, in Latino accent). There is a guest appearance by the dog from The Artist, one of many throwaway funny bits – with a literal punchline. Political bias? The Republican candidate is nicer than the Democrat! Funny while forgettable.
1. A spoof of American election campaigns? The background of satire and Saturday Night Live? The tongue-in-cheek tone? The crass humour? The overall effect?
2. Released in the context of the 2012 election, the style of the campaigns, regulations – and beyond?
3. The picture of Democrats and Republicans? Variety of stances? Right and left? Corporations?
4. The comic styles of Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis? Of the supporting cast? The cameos?
5. The introduction, Cam Brady, Mitch and his being the campaign manager? Cam’s wife, son? In himself, many terms in office? His relationships with people? Values, external? Private immorality? His speeches, the platitudes about God and religion? His sexual attitudes, the campaigner and his relationship? His wife and her attitudes? His presumption of success? The meetings, the papers, submitting for nomination?
6. The Motch brothers, John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd, satirising big business and corporations? The personalities of each of the brothers? Their money, the links with China, the factories and conditions? Wanting a candidate? Buying the land, the American factories, conditions, exploiting people? Choosing Marty?
7. Marty, in himself, his walk, talk, manner? His working for the company, the tours? His guide spiel? The phone call? The maid and her being African American, imitating the accents of the south? Marty’s brother, the clashes between the two? Marty’s father? The past, his being bullied, the tickling episodes? His accepting the nomination? Going to his family, the meal, everybody sharing their secrets – and the comic touches about American secrets and behaviour?
8. Tim Wattley, a sinister presence, intruding into the family, change of house, getting the furniture out? Vetting the speeches? The attack mode? The handshaking, the low talk? The debate and reactions?
9. The satire on campaign advertisements, the media? Father and son advertisements? Mitzi, her relationship with Cam, sex? The Chinese background, communist accusations? The nature of the debates, the questions? The religious dimensions, the naming of Jesus, the Lord’s Prayer – and Cam not knowing it? His faltering rendition?
10. Mitzi, her love for Marty, the kids, the failure, the confession?
11. Blitzer, the satire on dogs?
12. Wattle moving into the house, his surveillance?
13. Marty, his reaction, his resignation, the interchange with the Motches? With Wattley? The deciding that Cam should be the candidate?
14. The organising office? Promotion, the managers, Cam and his erratic behaviour, firing people? The salacious ads – and his playing them? Mitch and his integrity, leaving?
15. Cam, the Motch brothers, the double-talk?
16. The campaign, Marty continuing, his telling the truth – and his loss?
17. Cam, his wife, the victory, her double standards? The Motch brothers? Cam, his resignation, the truth?
18. The irony of the situation in Washington, Marty as the member? Cam as his adviser? The defeat of the Motch brothers?
19. The overall comedy, American style, broad? The effect in 2012?
