The Campaign opens in theaters in the US today and just in time before the November Presidential elections. What is the film’s message? Washington is in a mess and it needs to be fixed. How? Well, here is one way to do as Will Ferrell and Zach Galifinakis with director Jay Roach show in their new film The Campaign.  The film is funny, crass, politically incorrect and you will be laughing your head off. The film is rated R. Roach is the director of the Austin Power movies, Meet the Parents and produced Borat.

The film opens, with a famous quote from Ross Perot. Remember Perot, the once-upon-a-time Presidential candidate?

“War has rules, mud wrestling has rules – politics has no rules.”

Cut to the next scene and we see a coiffured Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) chanting “America, Jesus, Freedom,” and warming up to address a campaign rally at a football stadium. “I am living the American dream. My father worked with his hands and was the head stylist for Vidal Sasson,” and with those words we are introduced to Congressman Brady.

That quote and the opening scene sets the tone for the movie and you get a general idea that The Campaign is a no-holds barred movie, where politicians will stoop to any level to get elected.

Brady is an incumbent from a North Carolina constituency and is a definite shoo-in to win the upcoming elections. But, wait not so fast. Brady is not the decider. Where are the guys with the deep pockets that finance political campaigns? Enter the Motch brothers (John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd.) They call themselves  ”job creators” and are the ones financing Brady’s campaign. But, the brothers are unhappy with Brady’s latest gaffe. Surprise, surprise it is a sex scandal.

The brothers look for a “weird guy” to run as Brady’s opponent. They find Martin “Martin” Huggins (Zach Galifinakis), director of the local Tourism Center. Born into a well-heeled local family Marty is a disappointment to his father Raymond Huggins (Brian Cox), a seasoned political operator, who is retired.

Surprised by their offer, Marty decides to accept and throws in his hat and run for elections. The brothers don’t just give money, but they also tightly manage the entire campaign, and have a seasoned campaign manager, who takes care of it. Enter Tim Wattley (Dylan McDermott), who takes over as Marty’s campaign manager. Wattley’s single-minded focus is to get Marty elected. Wattley quickly changes Marty’s public image from a weird guy to a credible and competent political candidate. He does this skillfully by manipulating the 24/7 media beast that needs to be fed with juicy tidbits on a regular basis.

As the candidates are racing to woo voters before the election day, the film takes a surprising twist. Marty’s financial backers withdraw their support, and go back to supporting Brady. What brought about the change? So, what happens on election day? Who wins? The movie ends on a surprising note, and you have to watch it to find out.

Director Roach  weaves a story on how dysfunctional American politics has become. “Mr. Big Money” like the Motch brothers pick and choose their candidates and make sure those candidates win. The power of the incumbent candidate is a well-known phenomenon in American politics, and Roach highlights the level to which a philandering candidate like Cam Brady will descend to bag that Congress seat. But, if the philandering candidate becomes an economic burden to his corporate backers, they are dumped. “When you got money, nothing is unpredictable,” as one of the Motch brothers puts it.

Ferrell is on a roll in this film and plays a sleazy, politically incorrect candidate to the hilt. If you watch Ferrell closely there is more than one political candidate that comes to mind when you watch him on the screen. Galifinakis is in his element with his deadpan expressions.  He is clearly at home in his home turf of North Carolina.

Watch out for Karen Maruyama, who plays Mrs Yao, the housekeeper for Marty’s father. She gets $50 extra to speak like a Southerner because it “reminds him of his old days,” as Mrs. Yao puts it.

At times it felt like you were watching an extended version of Saturday Night Live (SNL) as the film takes well-aimed potshots at Congressmen, media, corporate honchos, campaign managers and everyone involved in the political campaign food chain.

Actors: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Tim McDermott, Brian Cod and Karen Maruyama.

Director: Jay Roach