The Campaign

This campaign would never win in my heart.

Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis’ new film, “The Campaign,” is full of tired gags.
I was excited for this film, as most of us were. Galifianakis and Ferrell are two of the funniest men in Hollywood; this movie had the potential to be comedy gold.

However, both men slap new accents on old characters and think a slight drawl might disguise the fact that we’ve seen this before.

Galifianakis is a slightly less awkward version of his character from “The Hangover.” Ferrell is Ron Burgundy as a southern politician. Those two characters aren’t bad, yet their interaction feels stilted and forced.

The dialogue isn’t performed with the same absurdist zing Ferrell and Galifianakis usually employ with gusto. The comedy in the film relies on plot points and visual cues rather than the funny men themselves.

At times, “The Campaign” seems to strive toward satire. Quite frankly, some parts were truly unfunny, awkward and scripted.

With less “Campaign” managing and more freedom for the candidates, the movie could have been better.

I suppose when expectations are this high, mediocrity doesn’t quite cut it. If only the same principle applied to our real politicians.

By Kelly Fritz