Another Political Scandal

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ENG 130
11 February 2013

Another Political Scandal? Hmmm?
Set entirely in North Carolina’s fourteenth congressional district, incumbent Congressman Cam Brady fends off a challenge from an odd, unordinary, and peculiar citizen named Marty Higgins in Jay Roach’s The Campaign. This film serves one purpose: to show the obvious problems political action committees (PAC’s) pose when they are allowed to permeate in a campaign. Congressman Cam Brady played by the notoriously humorous Will Ferrell, intends on running for re-election to a fifth term in Congress, but his efforts are derailed when he engages in a scandal with a mistress and leaves a sexually explicit message on a local family’s answering machine, which was intended for his
mistress. Immediately, two corrupt businessmen who are brothers convince local citizen Marty Higgins to run for the seat against Brady, who is played by another comedic actor Zach Galifianakis. Galifianakis is rough in the beginning, wearing unorthodox attire for a typical politician, and thinking that running for office is a game of sorts. However, the two businessmen who have placed a million dollars into Higgins’ PAC hire a campaign manager for Higgins who straightens out the situation. The film continues with more setbacks for the incumbant congressman. He unintentionally punches a baby in the face, puts a sexually explicit video ad on the television, and gets arrested for driving while intoxicated. While most viewers would see
Ashe 2 these acts as comical and funny, these scenes of indiscretions display the many bad decisions elected officials very often make.
Recently former Congressman Anthony Weiner, a democrat of New Work, tweeted a picture of himself in underwear onto twitter accidently. He was trying to send it to a woman, which is worth noting because he was married at the time, and still is. In addition, current Senator Mike Crappo, a republican of Idaho, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol in late December of 2012. So, these scenes are not just jokes, they are actually practiced by todays leaders. That is one message Jay Roach tries to get across to viewers, that these acts are not just ideas developed by directors and producers, but are actual events that take
place. Director Jay Roach and fellow producer Adam McKay chose well-experienced actors for the film.
Will Ferrell has played many politicians on the renowned late night show Saturday Night Live, like former President George W. Bush. That collective experience of playing dueling roles on a show like Saturday Night Live provided him with the experience needed for this film. Jay Roach and Adam McKay also chose a current Saturday Night Live cast member, Jason Sudeikis to play Congressman Brady’s campaign manager. Now for Zach Galifianakis, one might question as to why he was picked. One would most likely remember his appearance in The Hangover and wonder why he would be placed as a person running for Congress. It’s like a drunken teenager running for President. However, after further observation, one remembers that Galifianakis played a somewhat brainless and unconventional figure in The Hangover. That being said, he fits perfectly in this film because he is just that, an irregular man who runs for
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One movie that can be related to The Campaign is State of Play which featured Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, and Rachel McAdams. This film was also about a congressman, who was played by Ben Affleck. It does not have the funny feel to it that The Campaign does, however it encompasses another major factor within today’s political realm; the relationship(s) between elected leaders and the press. In State of Play a woman is killed and she is a member of Congressman Steven Collins’ staff. Collins also had an affair with the woman, before she was killed. Surrounding this situation evolves another one in which his best friend, who is a reporter, uncovers a conspiracy and huge plot surrounding the murder. Congressman Collins was on a panel/committee investigating the same company his best friend ended up connecting to the murder of Collins’ mistress. Again, these types of connections between elected officials and the mistresses and the press are what these two movies have in common. Both The Campaign and State of Play bring to light important issues that have been and are currently debated throughout this country.
The Campaign all around provides viewers with well written comedy that is complimented with political humor and savvy. This film is something that everyone will understand and appreciate, unless you live under a rock and do not know what the Citizen’s United vs. Federal Election Commission case was. If that’s the case then you will not understand this movie and not be able to follow its plot. You will feel like a infnant attempting to read one of Plato’s books. I give The Campaign two thumbs up. Not bad Will and Zach, not bad.