The Campaign (2012)

All Critics (204) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (126) | Rotten (68) | DVD (8)

Despite the obviousness of its political points, the film has a scattershot, breezy appeal.

August 20, 2012 Full Review

Bruce Diones

New Yorker

Top Critic

What these dog days of political campaigning needs is a good, sharp political satire. Alas, The Campaign is not that movie -- not even close.

August 16, 2012 Full Review | Comments (4)

Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

Top Critic

Simply taken as a broad character comedy, "The Campaign" definitely has its moments.

August 13, 2012 Full Review

Andrew O'Hehir

Salon.com

Top Critic

It's way over the top, but then again, so are most modern political campaigns. Lots of funny s--- here.

August 10, 2012 Full Review | Comments (22)

Richard Roeper

Richard Roeper.com

Top Critic

[A] very raunchy and sometimes pretty funny comedy - which isn't above going for dumb jokes, but is also smart enough to play to its two stars' strengths.

August 10, 2012 Full Review

Stephen Whitty

Newark Star-Ledger

Top Critic

This movie is single-handedly causing a major rise in our mirth deficit. It's so bad, I'm declaring a laugh emergency.

August 10, 2012 Full Review | Comments (31)

Kyle Smith

New York Post

Top Critic

It is meticulously bipartisan in its ridicule, from the right's embrace of God and guns, to the left's disingenuous stance against fat cats and big money.

May 26, 2013 Full Review

Al Alexander

The Patriot Ledger

The problem with situation comedy movies in general - and Will Ferrell vehicles such as The Campaign in particular - is that they usually fizzle out after the first 30 minutes.

April 21, 2013 Full Review

Matt Kelemen

Las Vegas CityLife

But for all its silliness, THE CAMPAIGN fixes what's broken in American politics with easy laughs and sharp truths.

April 3, 2013 Full Review

Meredith Borders

Badass Digest

Funny and entertaining, it's not a heavyweight contender, but who wants a heavyweight contender every time?

March 4, 2013 Full Review

Catherine Bray

Film4

Poking fun at the nastiness of elections, The Campaign finally brings together two of Hollywood's funniest comedians.

March 4, 2013 Full Review

Tom Glasson

Concrete Playground

Jay Roach's The Campaign can be funny at times, but it's mostly an exercise of patience as two usually funny men scrape the bottom of the barrel for some truly unfunny jokes. Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis have both been in much better films.

November 11, 2012 Full Review

Jeremy Lebens

We Got This Covered

A hopelessly broad and undisciplined comedy that features a small handful of amusing ideas but otherwise represents a major missed opportunity for rich Stateside election year satire.

November 1, 2012 Full Review

Brent Simon

Screen International

Funny and entertaining, it's not a heavyweight contender, but who wants a heavyweight contender every time?

October 30, 2012 Full Review

Film4

If it's sophistication you're looking for, forget it. This one's strictly for low laughs, at which it succeeds nicely.

October 25, 2012 Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

[B]itter, brutal, and -- unfortunately for the hopes and dreams of the American people -- very very pointedly funny...

October 24, 2012 Full Review

MaryAnn Johanson

Flick Filosopher

Works great until it develops a conscience

October 20, 2012 Full Review

Robert Denerstein

Movie Habit

The Campaign is an equal split of smart and stupid. Some people may be off-put by the wild detours into vulgarity, but I relished it.

October 19, 2012 Full Review

Adam Ross

The Aristocrat

In short, it's the sort of comedy which thinks punching babies and dogs in the face is funny.

October 3, 2012 Full Review | Comments (4)

Stephen Carty

Flix Capacitor

The Campaign does manage to strike a funny chord but don't be ashamed to find out these election results on home video.

October 2, 2012 Full Review

Kofi Outlaw

ScreenRant

Director Jay Roach lets swing with some comic haymakers - literally so when Cam aims a punch at his rival and ends up socking a baby in the jaw instead - but the gags are so unsubtle that the satire fails to deliver a knockout blow.

October 2, 2012 Full Review

Jason Best

Movie Talk

Will Ferrell's funniest movie in years, this is a silly comedy with a terrible sentimental streak, but the political satire running through it is dead on

October 2, 2012 Full Review

Rich Cline

Contactmusic.com

Using tired, lazy stereotypes that swerve any relevance to the times, it ironically treats both Americans and its audience with the same contempt as the politicians it lampoons.

September 30, 2012 Full Review

Andrew Simpson

Fan The Fire

With subtlety hardly its strong point (the humour is broad-beamed, brash and at times bordering on farce) it's raucous entertainment.

September 30, 2012 Full Review

Pauline McLeod

Daily Express

Witlessness.

September 30, 2012 Full Review

Philip French

Observer [UK]

Perhaps one in ten of the jokes hits the mark; the rest are damp, childish squibs

September 28, 2012 Full Review

Kate Muir

Times [UK]

• 1. Marty Huggins: Dad, if you're still holdin' a grudge because I wore crocs to Mom's funeral, like I've told a thousand times, I'm sorry. Mom would have wanted it that way. She was casual.
  – Submitted by Alyssa B (32 days ago)
• 1. Cam Brady: You know the difference between your Mom and washin' machine? When I dump a load in the washin' machine it doesn't follow me around for three weeks.
  – Submitted by Alyssa B (32 days ago)
• 1. Marty Huggins: I'm gonna roll up my sleeves, put my sandwich in my lunch pail, and grab my broom. Cause it's a mess.
  – Submitted by Alyssa B (32 days ago)
• 1. Marty Huggins: Hey, Travis, you tired this mornin'?
  2. Travis: Nope just high.
  – Submitted by Alyssa B (32 days ago)
• 1. Cam Brady: Did anyone ask me how my fist felt after punchin' the iron like jaw of that baby?
  – Submitted by Alyssa B (32 days ago)
• 1. Banker: Are you playin' footsie with me under the table, Mrs. Brady?
  – Submitted by Alyssa B (32 days ago)