 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Campaign
- Review Date: August 9, 2012
- R
- Genre: Comedy
- 2012
Common Sense Media says
Comedic superstars aim their raunchy satire at politics.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that The Campaign, which stars Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis, is a raunch-fest from beginning to end, starting with a scene that shows a family with young kids listening to a very lewd, graphic answering machine message. There's some nudity -- a woman's nipple is visible in a social setting -- and plenty of jokes about sex and a married man's indiscretions. Expect lots of swearing, too, including various versions of "f--k," plus "s--t," "d--k," and more. Still, the subject matter -- a congressional election and the dirty campaigning that leads up to it -- is a gold mine for comedy, and it may leave you thinking about our electoral process in general, too.
What's the story?
Longtime North Carolina congressman Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) is up for re-election. With no one running against him, he's entitled and sloppy, finally leading to a major indiscretion that leaves his main financial supporters -- the wealthy, corrupt Motch Brothers (Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow) -- searching for another candidate to back (and control). Enter Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis), the eccentric son of a once-rainmaker. Marty wants to do good in Washington, D.C., but little does he know that the Motch Brothers aren't about helping at all. In no time, Marty becomes consumed by the campaign, losing his identity much like Cam did.
Is it any good?
Like a comedy roast, THE CAMPAIGN is stuffed with would-be hilarious moments, egged on by stunt after stunt from the able stars. And fair is fair: Whichever genius came up with this pairing deserves a bonus. Combining Ferrell's oafy humor and Galifianakis' creepy-funny vibe is a win, especially in the context of the madness that is an election run-up.
But two-thirds of the way through, The Campaign starts to feel like the endless election, with no clear idea how to end or even when. We're happy to be laughing, but we'd like to know where we're going. Part of the fun of a riotous satire like this is that we know that, no matter how delicious every moment feels, in the end we'll be able to relish it in its entirety. But here we get an unsurprising and entirely conventional, finale. With The Campaign, the parts are greater than the whole. Let's vote already.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the main characters. Are they intended to be role models? Do you think they would resonate with people in real life? Which one would you vote for?
What is The Campaign saying about the American electoral system? Do you think candidates are manufactured or supported by rich people or companies that most voters aren't aware of?
What's the appeal of over-the-top raunchy comedies? What audience are they aimed at? Do they succeed?
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- Teens & kids
Kid, 12 years old
August 10, 2012
AGE
The Campaign
This was a funny movie. this was a good choice for political season, but Ted is overall funnier. There was some comedic violence, but not enough to highlight it. The sex jokes and situations were frequent, and there are two affairs. Cussing is frequent and should be 'Pervasive'. Drinking was seen but not bad. This was a good movie, but there are better comedies out.
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Teen, 14 years old
August 11, 2012
AGE
Crude political comedy fine for older teens
Lots of sexual dialog and actions. Lots of swearing. Nothing a mature teen couldn't handle
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Parent
August 17, 2012
AGE
Irresponsible movie production, direction, inception where child actors are concerned
I can't believe reviews I've read of The Campaign don't share my outrage at the lines the child actors are made to say in this movie. It is not funny for adults to have a child actor say he did something to an animal's penis, or for a child actor to say a line with vagina in it for shock value. I think this is abusive and irresponsible. Will Farrell; Dylan McDermott; John Lithgow; Dan Akroyd and all of the adults in this movie should be ashamed to support the lines the child actors in The Campaign were made to say.
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Teen, 16 years old
August 11, 2012
AGE
Great cast for the Campaign
Desent comedy has great cast, ok plot, unenteristing charecters (For Some of the movie)
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Kid, 12 years old
August 15, 2012
AGE
I loved it the dinner table lol
Hilarious omg
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Teen, 15 years old
August 15, 2012
AGE
Hilarious
Funny and raunchy
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Teen, 17 years old
August 15, 2012
AGE
Hilarious best 2 actors ever
This movie is so funny haha the dinner table scene is
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Teen, 16 years old
August 15, 2012
AGE
The dinner scene with Marty Huggins is worth price of admission!
While the movie isn't quite one extreme (very over the top) or another (biting satirical political movie) it has big laughs, and the audience and myself had a blast through the whole thing. For older high schoolers who will appreciate the nuances of Ferrel and Galifiankis' performances. Very well done!
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Teen, 17 years old
August 15, 2012
AGE
Hilarious
Zach and will are hilarious
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Parent
August 15, 2012
AGE
Vintage will ferrel and Zach galifimalis
Innapropiate and funny
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| Studio: | Everyman Pictures |
| Director: | Jay Roach |
| Cast: | Jason Sudeikis, Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 85 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 10, 2012 |
| DVD release date: | October 30, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | crude sexual content, language and brief nudity |
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