5 Great Campaign Comedies

The old adage that truth is stranger than fiction certainly applies to this year’s presidential campaigns, with an old white man named Bernie winning over millions of young Democratic voters and billionaire Donald Trump rallying the support of the working class. With the possibility of contested conventions brewing, things can only get more intriguing.

This movie predicted the media manipulation and pandering politicians of 2016 election more than 40 years ago.

But this year’s races have also been loaded with laughs, as Lindsey Graham smashed his cellphone in a campaign video after Trump made his phone number public, Trump flustered rivals with devastating nicknames, and Bernie drove Hillary to frustration when she wasn’t outright dodging debates.

Hollywood has a great tradition of movies about politics, stretching from “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” to “Lincoln.” Most are serious endeavors. But while comedies often garner less respect than dramas during awards season, they’re also often underrated when dealing with matters of state.

As one might expect from Hollywood, it can be harder to find solid conservative films compared to liberal ones. But the downtime before the conventions provides a perfect opportunity to enjoy some fictional campaign funniness, and these contain some nice surprises.

Here are five movies that should get your vote on Netflix.

“The Campaign” (2012)
This movie starred Will Ferrell as a blowhard Democratic senator named Cam Brady who faces an unexpected challenge from Republican Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis) when two rich businessmen known as the Motch brothers offer to fund Marty’s run. The Motches really want to get the unwitting Marty into office to preserve a dirty business deal with China, but it all backfires as the two candidates engage in a media-driven battle royale.

There are some obvious digs taken at the Koch brothers and some of the gags earn the film its R rating, but overall this is harmless ridiculous fun for adults. The surprising bonus (considering it comes from outspoken liberals Ferrell, Adam McKay, and Jay Roach) is that the Republican family man Marty is by far the most sympathetic character.

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“The Candidate” (1972)
Despite being written by Jeremy Larner, who was a speechwriter for Eugene McCarthy’s 1968 presidential campaign, this movie also focuses its satirical aim on a Democratic candidate. Robert Redford stars as Bill McKay, the son of a popular former governor who is recruited to to run as a sacrifice against a seemingly unstoppable Republican.

At first, McKay speaks his real mind, but his ultra-liberal policies lead him to fall so far behind he becomes an embarrassment. He agrees to change his rhetoric to bland platitudes to rise in the polls, but that approach works all too well. Spoiler alert: McKay winds up winning, then asks his handlers, “What do we do now?”

This movie predicted the media manipulation and pandering politicians of 2016 election more than 40 years ago.

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“Primary Colors” (1998)
Based on the acclaimed 1996 novel that was so packed with shocking satirical hits on the 1992 Clinton campaign that it had to be published anonymously, this movie toned down some of the book — but still features John Travolta and Emma Thompson as spot-on Clinton surrogates. Travolta’s Jack Stanton is a ruthless womanizer, uses intimidation and falsified medical reports to hide the fact he impregnated a 17-year-old black girl, and drives one of his closest friends and advisers to suicide when she realizes how ruthless the Stantons are. It’s a portrait of political idealism masking a black hole of craven immorality, yet still manages to find laughs along the way.

Coming out soon after the Monica Lewinsky scandal, the movie stirred controversy. With Hillary aiming to get the Clintons back in the White  House, it’s a timely reminder of America’s shadiest political couple.

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“Wag the Dog”  (1997)
This blackest of comedies also drew controversy because it had stunning parallels to Bill Clinton and the Lewinsky scandal. The movie follows a D.C. spin doctor (Robert DeNiro) who, just before a presidential election, distracts the electorate from a sex scandal by hiring a Hollywood producer (Dustin Hoffman)  to create a fake war with Albania.

The fact that “Wag” came out one month before the Lewinsky scandal and the Clinton administration’s bombing of an innocent pharmaceutical factory in Sudan gave it the kind of media frenzy that money can’t buy.

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“Election” (1999)
This movie is set in high school, where too-perfect Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) is determined to become student body president. Wanting revenge against Tracy because she came out unscathed by a sex scandal that ruined the life of his best friend and fellow teacher, Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) sets off a disastrous domino effect when he recruits a popular moron to run against her. The movie is packed with comic twists and ruthless behavior — and one can easily envision Tracy as Hillary in high school.

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