VOTE YES FOR 'THE CAMPAIGN'

WILL FERRELL and ZACH GALIFIANAKIS

The Campaign (Warner Bros.), which stars Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis as political rivals, is one of the funniest movies since 2011’s ‘Bridesmaids.’  It’s hilariously funny. It’s LOL funny! It’s also right on the edge of being inappropriate, raunchy, crude, trashy and brash. But, that’s what makes it so funny. It rides that comedy fine line right to I-can’t-believe-they-said-that-ville. 

Will Ferrell plays the incumbent Congressman Cam Brady, an incredible horny and dimwitted sort who would do anything and anybody to get elected.  He uses meaningless slogans like ‘America, Jesus, Freedom’ as a calling card. He spews the name of Jesus at every turn, but can’t say the Lord’s Prayer. Enter, challenger Marty Huggins, played to the hilt by Galifianakis, who doesn’t know that the good ‘ol boys who convinced him to run – have a hidden agenda.  The good ‘ol boys include not only his father (Brian Cox), but the Motch Brothers, played in full hilarity by Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow.

Neither candidate is really qualified to run the district they want to represent, but that doesn’t stop them.  It’s about prestige for Brady. It’s about making his father and his community proud for Huggins.

What ensues is pure comedy chaos!!!

To be sure, this is a comedy for grown folks. This IS NOT, let me repeat, this IS NOT a film for anyone under 18.  The script is filled with sexual dialogue that would leave a sailor’s face red with embarrassment. But it’s so drop dead funny, you’re not even offended.

Katherine LaNasa (Rose Brady) and Sarah Baker (Mitzi Huggins), who play the candidates wives, are hysterical.  LaNasa gives just the right amount of verve to her character whose only goal in life is to become the nation’s second lady, Baker plays just the right amount of naivete and indifference to the political process because it’s destroying her family unit.

Karen Maruyama is brilliant as Mrs. Yao, a maid, who at the request of her good ‘ol boy employer takes on a derogatory mammy-like posture and speech in order to give her position a more authentic, Southern feel.  Watching Maruyama is worth the price of admission alone.

WARNING: If you are easily offended, you may want to steer clear of ‘The Campaign.’ However if you want to laugh yourself silly, vote for ‘The Campaign.’

‘The Campaign,” directed by Jay Roach, also stars a hilarious Jason Sudeikis and a funny Dylan McDermott. "The Campaign" is currently in theaters nationwide.

On the Donloe Scale, D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (OK) and E (excellent), “The Campaign” gets an E (excellent).