As befits a nation so uniquely and historically inclined towards puffery, American politics has long been plagued by the scourge of oversimplification. Complex social and political issues are deliberately turned into reductive polemics designed to elicit an emotional response rather than engaging in an intellectual dialogue. Whether it means to or not, the new poster for The Campaign, echoes that reductive approach, selling the film on three simple elements.
The film, previously titled
Southern Rivals, is about an imbecilic longstanding North Carolina Congressman who, after consistently running unopposed, is suddenly up against a strange, naive tourism director being backed by some Koch-style billionaires looking to exert some political influence. The poster gets across the basic idea by having
Will Ferrell and
Zach Galifianakis nose-to-nose in suits, with the Capitol dome behind them. Like its title and political theater in general, this poster for
The Campaign gets the point across with the subtlety of sledgehammer to the testicles.
Warner Bros unveiled the new poster today at the official The Campaign Facebook page.
The comedy's first theatrical trailer made its online debut almost a month ago, and you can refresh your memory by clicking right here.
That trailer indicated that The Campaign could be an odd combination of sensibilities, evincing the improv-heavy ridiculousness favored by Ferrell and producer Adam McKay with the more gag-oriented style of Austin Powers director Jay Roach. There's also the potential for Roach, who directed the straightforward, fact-based HBO electoral dramas Recount and Game Change, to inject some real satire, but there might not be much space amidst all the insanity.
The cast is led by Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis, obviously, but comedic support is on offer from proven presences like Jason Sudeikis, Dylan McDermott, Sarah Baker, and Brian Cox, as well as John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd as the wealthy pair investing heavily in the election.
The Campaign arrives at a theater near you on August 10th.
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