Will Ferrell/Zach Galifianakis go tag team on Koch brothers/Citizens United

[grantcart]

Going to see The Campaign I was treated first to two couples who were berating a young assistant manager and demanding that they get a complete refund immediately.

"I mean it was just a bunch of guys in a room saying all kinds of things, you could get a bunch of guys in a room or I could get a bunch of guys in the room and just say a bunch of things, those aren't facts", yelled a very tall farmer type guy who had the vessels in his forehead in full extension. His wife "I am going to make a sign and put it on the door so other people are snookered".

I couldn't help myself and stepped in between the group and asked "you wouldn't be unhappy about the Obama movie would you?" and the big guy repeated that anybody including him, the assistant theater manager or even me, could get a bunch of guys in a room and say all kinds of stuff. "Oh its completely racists and even the conservatives are laughing at it I said".

Anyway on to the movie and its pretty typical Ferrell movie that had some gut busting laughs tied together with a weak plot and a lot of flat time. Galifiankis stole (or was given by a generous Ferrell) most of the funniest lines, including an opening scene at Galifianakis' character's family evening a typical dinner except that Galifiankis has instructed the two sons and the wife to admit all their darkest secrets with no fear of anger from Dad. Each time around the table generates a more hilarious disclosure and when one of the sons admits to shaving the dog and gluing the fur to his 11 year old nut sack to make him look older the audience was howling so loud that you couldn't hear the lines.

But the real surprise of the movie is that the villains were identified as two billionaires the Motch brothers (Lithgow/Ackroyd) that were buying elections around the country. The other main villain was the Citizens United ruling.

it wasn't high comedy but it had some hilarious points filling the auditorium with loud laughter that told me that all of the stupidity of the RNC convention and the canned anti Obama documentaries weren't going to have much of an impact.

It was obvious that the basic premise of the movie, that extremely rich elements are trying to buy off the elections, was widely accepted by a very diverse audience that had just come for a laugh. We were all in the same boat and they were laughing at the way that Ferrell and Galifiankis were ridiculing those elements.

(Zach's uncle was a congressman from North Carolina, where the movie was set)

[unc70]

1. Uncle Nick Galifinakis represented Durham & Chapel Hill

David Price now has that seat

Knew Zack's father Harry back when he worked with his other brother, Pete.

While set in NC, I thInk it was filmed in Louisiana.

[coalition_unwilling]

6. I actually met and performed with Zack on the same open mike

stages in Santa Monica and Westwood back in the late 90s. Zack would have an entire roomful of stand-up comedians, many of them incredibly funny in their own right, rolling on the floor in hysterical laughter as he performed what I think was then called 'alternative stand-up'.

I remembered thinking at the time that if any of us would 'make it,' Zack would be the one and time has borne out the soundness of my judgment. He was a very nice guy, very simple and unassuming and so not full of himself. A truly decent human being in a city full of pathological narcissists.

I've lost touch with him in the years since but Zack's success demonstrates that sometimes nice guys finish first.

[awoke_in_2003]

2. It makes no logical sense...

but I am drawn to Will Ferrell movies like a moth to a flame.

[davidpdx]

3. Farrell is pretty wacky

I still laugh at the "landlord" video. How they got that kid to say all those things (or even stuff that sounded like it) is beyond me.

[grantcart]

4. He's pretty generous with his co stars as well

If you haven't seen The Campaign then you should, its the one that he made for DU.

[cliffordu]

5. Is this your first movie review???

Good work!!

Your slaughter of the commas seems to have abated for the time being, too.

[grantcart]

7. If you like Ferrell or Galifianikis generally, and like DU then

this movie is for you.

You know that its going to be weak on plot but strong on schtick, I was surprised that the political part was so pointed at Koch and Citizens United.

[Jennicut]

8. I love Will Ferrell.

I saw Talladega Nights last night. It was such a parody of the south. Some people don't like his humor but I always have. Bonus points for Sacha Baron Cohen being in the movie. I know I will already like this one.