Just in time for prime political season comes this Congressional comedy from Jay Roach, best known as the director of all three Austin Powers comedies and the first two Fockers family comedies.  A highbrow he is not, much to the detriment of this political satire.  Satire this is, as incumbent idiot Will Ferrell is startled when he is challenged for his North Carolina congressional office by newcomer Zach Galifianakis, who is backed by party bosses Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow.

This could have been a fairly original, daring and funny satire of how politics is done in today’s sound bite era, and, to be fair, the movie does lampoon the election process with glee.  But originality is dashed in favor of stupidity, crudity and a high degree of familiarity; various elements of the film are borrowed, if not stolen, from other, better movies.  For instance, the two manipulative party bosses are right out of Trading Places and the actions of Ferrell’s wife when things get tough are right out of Talladega Nights: The Story of Ricky Bobby.  Then comes the ending, which is so outlandish, unrealistic and politically correct that it negates the amusing viciousness that had come before.

The viciousness that has become part and parcel of modern campaigns provides at least some entertainment value, particularly involving the increasingly nutty TV ads that are approved by Ferrell’s camp.  I think it is safe to say that if real politicians loosened up and made ads like Ferrell’s the political season would be a whole lot more intriguing.  But that represents the movie’s only real value.  So much of the comedy is either crude, sometimes offensively so, or stupid.  This should have been clever and sharp and wicked; instead, The Campaign is silly and dull and amusing — and deserves little viewer support.  ☆ 1/2.  22 August 2012.