What Does It Take To Care About 14,641 Gatorade Bottles?

For our purposes today, massive love for either Gatorade or Michael Jordan, or way too much time in the Windy City. What I'm actually reviewing is this erratic and stifled 30-second spot from Gatorade and TBWA meant to promote the new limited edition MJ-labeled bottles. The clip feels like a making-of piece that's about five times too short (ironically, the correct length video is here) and, without knowledge of the circumstances (Jordan's recent induction into the Naismith Hall of Fame), utterly meaningless. It's a perfect example of "you had to be there."



Though the Jordan name sells so well anyway, it would help if TBWA tried to not only have a story behind it for the non MJ-worshipers but told the story with words and images. As far as I'm concerned, Jordan's best moment is this one.

Can't You Just Shove Your Payment Problems In A Closet With A Popsicle?

That's what faux coverage company Impact Car Insurance succeeds in doing in this 60-second spot by Lewis Communications for the real Alfa Insurance. Well, that's only the best part of the spot; most of it involves an elaborate switcheroo shot and acted in 007 style. A man in a busted ass vehicle drives up to the bright orange location to collect on his claim but finds a dull and grey accounting firm. For what it's trying to do, the ad is pretty perfect although the tagline "Let's Talk About Tomorrow" feels slapped on at the end. Hat tip to the copious Adland.



Especially at a time when the President makes laws because of backlash against insurance companies, creating that contrast and establishing your company as trustworthy changes the game. And it gives you an excuse to give a woman a Popsicle and lock her in a closet.

What Happens When A Viral You're Not Responsible For Saves You?

Or, in Chris Brown's case, his career. Although this wedding dance clip choreographed by a Minnesota couple and featuring the singer's "Forever" is not an ad, it has effectively put Brown's name back into a good light after his hit-and-run with singer Rhianna. In fact, as it maintains its status as number 1 viral video on the 'Net, it's fairly prudent to assume that the two parties (Brown and the wedding crew) have nothing to do with each other. The video is number one for damn good reason: it's utterly engaging, it features a church crowd both shocked and totally into it, and the quite catchy song and its sound fits perfectly with the mood of the occasion. It's a marketer's wet dream; and yet any increase in record sales for Brown is mere coincidence.



The dancers even got their extra fifteen minutes on the Today Show last week with the song intact. Is this coincidental success a result of a simply good song or is the Invisible Hand of the Internet giving Brown another chance after an unfortunate circumstance? Either way, double your pleasure, double your fun, and double your freaking revenue.

Update: Pretty awesome parody video on College Humor.

Breath So Good, It's Artistic?

I've never though about it that way; admittedly, I'm not very clever. This print piece from Binaca breath spray device (you know, when Lloyd aims for his mouth but hits Danny Aiello in the face) states and illustrates that not only does your horrendous halitosis dissipate but your personality shifts to make others around you think you are interesting. Not much else to say: it's solid work although the marketing for something like Binaca seems like it should be inherent within the product with the sound and scent of the spray.


This is the best of the print pieces from the campaign headed by Gertrude Chicago. This one confused someone into thinking the product was spray-on lipstick and this one just pulled a Hollywood liberal and is green for the sake of being green. I'm still waiting for the portable spray that doubles as breath freshener and mace.

Are You At The End Of The Bench In Life?

Then you probably should have been involved with sports as a kid and, for Christ's sake, get your nearly useless kids out on the field today! According to this spot from KidSport BC in Canada, physical techniques learned from childhood games can help you and others in certain situations. In the clip, a man must save another man at the community pool, but comes up a little short. The ad makes sense because the situation does have the potential to occur; and the silliness of it is enough so that you're not thinking, "That dude is going to drown!"Seriously though, if he's so physically inept, why is he near a training facility and not at home on the Internet. Wait...



But that is only the first of three spots: so much sporting to do! Learn how to give and receive co-worker camaraderie here and how not to interact with women WAY out of your league here.

Who's Doing Better Ad Reviews Than I Am?

This is the first edition of many posts featuring posts from people who are just straight up better at what I'm trying to do. Today's post comes from the absurdly terrific Cracked.com; it's called "7 Insane Ads That Have No Idea What They're Selling." Here's a piece and an excerpt:

The tune should be familiar to anyone who enjoys Calypso music or watched Beetlejuice recently; but perhaps emboldened by the lipstick and fake breasts, this guy makes the brave character choice to inflect all the wrong syllables and sing completely out of key. This practice is frequently mistaken as being "lighthearted" and/or "funny," but in actuality makes us want to punch a cat in the balls.

It's a very entertaining read throughout and they've stumbled upon some really inane ads from Sprite, Xbox, and, of course, France.

Do You Need To Take Out Your Anger On A Bean Bag?

You might feel that you have to, especially if you are a small business owner. This DRTV guy has just the product for you called the Recession Aggression Bag, a one hump joke that tries to fit in four or five. It's understandable that many people are frustrated with the lack of certainly in this period of economic downturn (which is over in Canada). However, the only way to go from poking fun at the recession to changing real businesses fortunes is to be able to shift from a true parody to a true friend. And I think this spot falls flat because it doesn't have that strong and fulfilling contrast. It's pretty good (especially the elaborate dentist prank), but let's face it: if I'm that mad at the recession, then I'm even more pissed at ad people.



At least they found a way to keep from saying, "if you order the Recession Aggression Bag right now, we'll double your order...of recessions." At least Office Depot isn't advocating hate crimes.

Are You Going Through Life Drunk AND Without An App For It?

Well, not anymore son. With an app called "Walk The Line," something Joaquin Phoenix looked like he could have used a few months back, jazzy Dutch brewer Grolsch allows users to figure out if they are too inebriated to pass a simple test of motor skills. Hat tip to the usually useless AdAge.



Unfortunately, the app is not available in the US, so you alcoholics are just going to have to keep getting arrested.

Can You Spot The Fake One?

In this clever and service-featuring spot from CreativeOnDemand, a devious, Kangol-sporting man tries to trick Volkswagen's Carefree Maintenance Team with some pretty hardcore tomfoolery. However, a rip in his plan sets the Volkswagen guys on his trail and the truth is revealed. Though the spot is well conceived and executed, I'm hard pressed to find a reason why the dude would try to trick them in the first place, since there is no way the free maintenance could be performed on his busted-ass vehicle. I guess he's just a prankster.



The only thing that really drags the spot down is the "I am outraged" by the annoying little black beetle. Couldn't Xzibit pimp that fool's voice?

Intelligible Batman Voice Giving Financial Advice?

You'd better believe it. As much as people loved The Dark Knight, they can't help but get pumped about Adam West delivering an inspirational monologue about taking control of the screwy world of finance. Mullen makes sure you know it's LendingTree with some sexy graphics at the end.



My Great Scot has always been Sean Connery for putting that jerk Alex Trebek in his place; but I can deal with this new guy. Non-white-male spots here and here.

The Message AND The Money?

This is the effect of a brilliant (though not necessarily original) campaign from UNICEF to fight all kinds of third-world diseases brought on by a lack of clean water.

It's cool that they don't have to plug it in.

Microsoft Doing Some Good Marketing?

I know the Laptop Hunters campaign has been strong (though I would mostly credit Apple with being a little under competitor-orientated) but there is not a whole lot of amazing work being done by the struggling giant right now. But this fake action movie trailer with a decent budget and solid (read: cliched) writing actually represents.



Now, if this somehow got on TV, ad critics would start showing some love to Microsoft.

Can Youtube Comments Sell Burritos?

Taco Bell better hope so, since those are the only friendly mentions this ad for its Fruitista Freeze drink is getting.

Some examples:

(high pitch)" if u hate filling out your timesheets." Lmao. Look at the face he makes!!!

and

if ur boss has no brain

and

bahahahahahahhahahahahaha

Sometimes, we all need a good laugh.

Update: Ok, I've changed my mind. I think this is awesome!!!