Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & II • August 22, 2012 ‘The Campaign’ is political comedy with stinging truths by Dennis Seuling So many Hollywood comedies are vacuous, insipid efforts that it is a pleasure to find -- in the middle of August, no less -- a political comedy that actually is smart, perceptive, and biting, without giving up its ability to elicit laughter. “The Campaign” focuses its delightfully honest eye on those aspects of current politics that drive people crazy. Director Jay Roach (the TV movies “Recount” and “Game Change”) manages to incorporate some incisive satire and not-so-subtle criticism of 21st century American politics into this new release. Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) is a smooth-talking, multiterm North Carolina Congressman who has been running on nothing in particular and retains his office by serving the needs of the corporations that fund his campaigns. The hugely wealthy Motch brothers (Dan Aykroyd, John Lithgow) aspire to maneuver congressional representatives like pieces on a chess board to gain legislation that would maximize their corporate profits. With Brady’s bland image tarnished by womanizing and a sexually explicit voicemail message he mistakenly left on the answering machine of a devout Christian family, the brothers encourage a local nobody, Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis), to run against him. Marty works in the tourism bureau and lacks any iota of political savvy until Zach Galifianakis and Will Ferrell star as opposing candidates in ‘The Campaign.’ the Motch brothers hire Tim Wattley (Dylan McDermott), a no-holds-barred strate- demonizing political commercials, elected-official scangist, to manage Marty’s campaign. Wattley embeds him- dals, embarrassing photos gone public, and the Citizens self inside the Huggins home and oversees makeovers not United decision. These are the tempting bounty from which only for Marty but also for his wife, Mitzi (Sarah Baker). the writers have crafted their tale of two loose-cannon He also coaches Marty in the dirty business of running for candidates in a nasty campaign more for power than for issues. office. There is one misstep along the way. Roach takes a senDuring the contest between these two shallow candidates, there are plenty of opportunities for one gag after timental turn when he shows how Cam’s win-at-any-cost another, many of them suitable to the film’s R rating. Fer- tactics are affecting his son, and the tone changes markedly rell and Galifianakis do what they do best in amping up the from the frantic pace of the campaign trail. Apparently, silliness of the situations and playing out preposterous sce- writers and director didn’t have enough faith in the audinarios. Viewers see attack ads, long-winded speeches with ence to recognize that Cam Brady is an exaggeration of all no substance, theatrical patriotism, costly haircuts, manip- the negative aspects of the career politician. Humanizing ulative and conscienceless handlers, and evil, behind-the- him with a scene of parental insight seems awkward and a cop-out in an otherwise clever and funny movie. scenes puppet masters with trucks full of campaign cash. “The Campaign” is an equal-opportunity offender. The That is what distinguishes “The Campaign” as more than a pleasant divertissement. The script by Shawn Har- film targets the cracks in the democratic process and magwell and Chris Henchy reflects what Americans have seen, nifies them by exaggeration. This very funny movie has not only in the current presidential campaign, but also in more to it than a series of verbal and sight gags featuring years of pork-barrel legislation, special-interest lobbying, buffoons seeking public office. Some of the scenes are candidates who fail to take a stand on significant issues, eerily similar to the newspaper headlines.