Democratic incumbent Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) has run unopposed in the 14th district of North Carolina four times. He loves America, he loves freedom, and he loves Jesus, but he isn't sure why. He just knows the people love it when he says that. But when he is caught leaving a dirty phone message for his mistress on a constituents answering machine, the higher ups decide to do something about it. The higher ups are the Motch brothers (Dan Ackroyd, John Lithgow), loosely based on the Koch brothers, who need a senator who will vote to allow Chinese factories on U.S. soil. They try to find someone less reckless then Brady. They settle on republican Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis) a small town business owner and son to the Huggins estate. A family that goes so far back they pay their Asian maid to talk like a black woman because it reminds them of the "good old days." Marty at first looks like he has no chance of winning, but with a ruthless Motch funded campaign manager (Dylan McDermott) both Brady and Huggins resort to dirty tricks to undermine one another in the race to get elected.
It is hard to review comedies because no one likes to read the jokes poorly remembered by me, so I am sorry if this one is a little bit short. Ferrell is hilarious. He is back into a character that immediately is reminiscent of Anchorman and should prepare him for that role again. He has beautiful hair, and acts very much like a douchey democratic politician should (looking at you former senator Edwards). He will do anything, up to and including sleeping with his opponents wife and running an ad of their sex tape.
Marty Huggins is the exact opposite. He's short and adorable. He owns two pugs and is very effeminate and very Christian at the same time. His campaign manager spends most of his time making Marty tougher. Replacing his house items with lots of carved wood, stuffed dead animals, and replacing his pugs with a lab and a retriever, the two most American dogs out there.
As I said, the movie is hilarious, with almost constant laughs, mostly coming from our two very capable leads. I wouldn't say there's very many quotable parts, just that every line of dialogue can be made good by a great actor. What detracts from the film, or holds it back is the lack of substance. This film is more parody than satire. The candidates use buzzwords to charge their audience like calling the other one a communist or invoking Jesus. Deeper issues are rarely discussed. There are some subtle jabs, like when Brady hands Huggins some Chick-Fil-A coupons, but on the whole it doesn't get very deep.
Does it matter? No, because it is still funny. Even if they both act like Republican candidates. I also died when Ferrell punches both a baby and the dog from "The Artist". Good, solid R-rated fun, that is funny for all ages in an audience.
3 out of 4 stars
-Christopher O'Connell
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