| Site locale: United States |
|
||||
|
||||||
|
Best Blu-ray Deals  
|
Best Blu-ray Deals, See All the Deals » |
Top deals |
Price drops
|
 $4.99 |  $14.26 |  $13.99 |  $14.99 |  $7.96 |  $26.93 |  $4.99 |  $4.99 |  $34.99 |  $4.99 |  $4.99 |  $21.99 |  $25.21 |  $4.99 |  $8.99 |  $7.99 |  $33.99 |  $4.99 |  $14.99 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Campaign2012 | 93 min | R | 1.85:1
“The Campaign” seems like a sure thing. With stars Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis trading insults in a political satire timed to coincide with an upcoming presidential election, the feature has potential up the wazoo, especially with these two talents and their capacity for screen mischief. Despite initial promise, “The Campaign” often feels like an actual election marathon, anchored by a dreary sense of humor and a bizarre late-inning gush of sincerity that asks viewers to take the broad clowning on display with some degree of seriousness. Much like real politicians, Ferrell and Galifianakis are one-dimensional and possess limited inspiration, depending on volume and strained quirk to pass for humor in a comedy that’s aching for some authentic directorial spark. 
Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) is a career politician, a loudmouth, and an adulterer, and he’s looking to retain his congressional seat in North Carolina. Without an opposing candidate, Cam is ready to seize power once again, despite many public humiliations. Looking to construct a Chinese sweatshop on American soil, the all-powerful Motch Brothers (Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow) decide to enlist town idiot Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis) to battle against Cam, hoping to transform the pug-loving slob with an obese family into a sleek political nightmare, led by stealthy campaign manager Tim Wattley (Dylan McDermott). Facing true competition for the first time, Cam declares war, using attack ads and his uncontainable masculinity to break Marty’s spirit. Feeling the bite of his congressional run, Marty returns fire, though his underhanded tactics come to test his character and alienate his family. Director Jay Roach certainly has an insatiable appetite for the political climate of the last decade, having helmed “Recount” and this spring’s miserable “Game Change.” To sustain his interests in the pre-Obama world, Roach goes right to the source for “The Campaign,” asking Ferrell to essentially contort his famous George W. Bush impression for the new film, creating a similar southern firecracker with limited intellect and an itch for troublemaking. It’s the first of many familiar sights and sounds in this pedestrian picture, which also takes time to poke blindly at the Koch Brothers, the predictability of cable news cycles, and general unethical campaign manipulations, aiming for a vaguely madcap tone of contemporary politicking, picking pop culture and “Daily Show” crumbs off the ground for nourishment. 
If “The Campaign” had teeth, Roach might’ve struck gold with this semi-silly business. Instead, the movie limps its way to lifeless jokes and tiresome performances, often dependent on empty vulgarity to prove itself worthy as R-rated entertainment. The crudeness isn’t appealing, just desperate, while Ferrell stomps around maniacally in a manner that’s become crushingly routine. The toxic escalation of the campaign holds potential, with Cam managing to accidentally punch out a baby (clearly fake, don’t worry) and Augie, the dog from “The Artist,” yet the screenplay isn’t barbed enough to sustain a refreshing madness, content to make room for crummy improvisation and Ferrell volume, while Galifianakis minces about in sweaters and a mustache. Oddly, the material never bothers to question Marty’s sexual preference, which seems to be the entire point of the character. The story is formulaic, in need of a lacerating sense of humor to strengthen the satire and bring out the bellylaughs, yet there’s little here audiences haven’t seen before, with the possible exception of Karen Maruyama as Mrs. Yao, an Asian housekeeper for Marty’s father (Brian Cox) who’s forced to speak in an exaggerated African-American servant accent to appease her racist employer. That’s about as edgy as it gets in “The Campaign.” If only it were funny. 
A few weird bits manage to come up for air, yet the majority of “The Campaign” keeps to a dull serving of gags, ultimately switching over to earnestness in the final act as Marty surveys the wreckage of his dishonest ways. Tears have no place in something this stupid. It’s hard to believe Roach imagines the material having some type of lasting effect on viewers as the countdown to voting season begins, leaving the film’s climax soggy and ridiculous. I’d rather watch Cam bat around more CGI babies than endure Roach reaching for some type of inspirational conclusion, especially in the clumsy, feckless manner “The Campaign” goes about its business. Starring: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis, Dylan McDermott, Brian Cox, John Lithgow Director: Jay Roach » See full cast & crew |
 
Trending Blu-ray Movies
Trending in Theaters
Most Popular Blu-ray Movie Deals
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
This web site is not affiliated with the Blu-ray Disc Association. All trademarks are the property of the respective trademark owners. © 2002-2013 Blu-ray.com. All rights reserved. Mobile | Registration problems | Business/Advertising Inquiries | Privacy Policy | Legal Notices |
$103,430,245
