It has been a while since Will Ferrell has been laugh-out-loud funny. The last time I remember him making audiences laugh as hard as he did in “The Campaign” was probably when he played the emotional and conceited lead anchor in “Anchorman.” And, in fact, his role as well-rehearsed politician Cam Brady is vaguely similar to his role as Ron Burgundy.

Brady runs unopposed for the position of congressman and is about to be sworn in until a naïve contender and son of a former politician, Marty Huggins (Galifianiakis), announces he is going to run against Brady. The contrast between the two characters could not be more clear.

Huggins is a kind and sensitive candidate who is genuinely interested in helping his town and making his father proud. In contrast, Cam Brady is proud and outraged anyone would even dare to run against him. What this movie really comes down to is a classic battle between good and evil laced with political satire that sometimes doesn’t seem too far from the reality of American politics.

As with most extreme characters, though, both Brady and Huggins go through dramatic changes from the pressures of the campaign through the process of the movie. Much like real American politics, polls change quickly, and the movie reaches its climax when the poll’s results are split between the two candidates.

The pressure on Marty from his campaign director and the sacrifices he makes for the sake of winning the race force him to take a look at his own motives. The risk of losing the race drives Brady nearly mad, which is arguably one of the funniest parts of the film. The viewer instantly has flashbacks to parts of “Anchorman” when watching Ferrell lose his mind. That might not be such a good thing, but there is no denying that Brady is a perfect character for him.

“The Campaign” is easily one of the funniest and most well-crafted political comedies in recent years. On one level, it is a great political satire that pokes fun at the sheer madness of political campaigns, and on another level, it is emotional, hilarious and a great performance from both Ferrell and Galifianiakis. Anyone who enjoys a little crude humor and good political satire à la Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart is almost certain to enjoy “The Campaign.”