The Campaign (2012)

Artwork for Theatrical Release

I sadly spent the weekend suggesting people go out an watch this film after seeing a trailer that promised, as it turns out, more film-making than the film could deliver.

In my moonlighting as a sometimes unpaid editor for a national network morning show, I watched this trailer no less than a hundred times between Wednesday and Thursday, laughing all the way to the last viewing.

Then came Monday, and an invite to watch the film, and even though I had much to do, including an overdo review of The Island for this here blog, I jumped at the opportunity and soon wished I hadn't, safe for the, as usual, excellent company.

The first thing that strikes you is the bad editing and really, really bad script.  It seemed at times, that the few truly brilliant and raucous moments were actually improvised, and that speaks more to the comic brilliance of the two pillars of the film, than anything else.

Watching the first third of the film, you might be fooled into a faux sense of security, but rest assured that the second part of this film is oft unfunny and unimaginative.

Good acting, narrative, and film-making is sacrificed to be able to make a social commentary that most people in the age of 24 hour news and a year of elections might not care.  And even then, doesn't do a good enough job to merit it (does anyone really know who the Koch brothers are, and what they do?)


The idea itself was great, but the execution was uninspiring and full of flaws.  Which is a shame considering the pedigree of the film-makers, including the director of the Austin Powers trilogy and the first two film in the Meet the Parents films.  If you go in expecting any of those films, or Step Brothers or anything funny, don't.

Plot exposition is horrible and even in the American tradition of over simplifying even the broadest of stereotypes, this falls short and unfunny.  One of the truly hillarious and memorable moments comes from the ethnically confused maid who does an exceptional job with a tepid idea, but falls flat and short in the encore.

The acting is pretty atrocious and worse yet, flat; with the exception of John Lithgow and my personal wispy WASP alpha female crush, Katherine LaNasa, who sadly is playing an offshoot of the same character she's been playing for years.

SIDENOTE:  If only Hillary Clinton had the pure sex appeal of one Katherine LaNasa, she could have played the Obama girl bandwagon to a presidency, just saying.  I would have voted for her.  Twice even.  And I'm not even a citizen.

Wait for this movie to make it's way to TBS or TNT in 2 years, or until it hits the discount bin at Walmart.  This film is really not worth the ticket price or really your full attention without the commercial breaks, and even then you might have to be drunk. 

Or high.

Discuss.