Magical Misery Tours
A 3 minute mockumentary short- the latest in ‘The B@it’ series from Channel 4.
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“Don’t put alcohol in your teapots”
Following a fresh ban on alcohol sales and closure of all bars across South Africa, as part of new restrictions to fight the resurgence of the coronavirus, the country’s Police Minister had a very specific message for restaurant owners (who’ve been allowed to remain open):
Don't put alcohol in your teapots in restaurants. Don't put alcohol in the bottles written 0% alcohol. We know your tricks, don't do that.
Waste
From Russia: a Christmas commercial from IKEA that doubles as a PSA for- well, best if you discover it for yourself.
One of These Mornings
Down memory lane…
The magic of Patti LaBelle’s voice in the Miami Vice version of Moby’s song.
For those who’d like the added pleasure of director Michael Mann’s visual style: a link to the scene from the movie.
Break up with your couch
A 2 minute spot from Comedy Central. In the words of one of the creative people behind it:
It’s a universal truth that we are all beginning to have a toxic relationship with our couches this year.
BP Cryogenics
A side-splittingly funny commercial from Boston Pizza- part of a campaign to revive dishes that had been taken off the menu.
Zero Dicks
A PSA for new moms that is audacious in the way it milks medical advice for humour. Here’s a link.
Believe in Luck
A black kitten that has the power to bring good luck, takes centre stage in this cute commercial for the Dutch State Lottery, with a heart-warming twist.
Merry 2020
If 2020 were to be like taking a walk back home around Christmas time, this is what it might feel like- a 3 minute short from the new comedy channel, Comedy Sauce.
Lockdown Lovebaby Collection
From Kraft Heinz Canada, a limited-edition collection of onesies:
In the words of a company spokesperson:
Having a baby 9 months to the day of the lockdown may make some parents blush— everyone knows what went down in March 2020. But it’s only ‘natural’. And obviously ‘homemade’. Two things we care deeply about at Heinz by Nature. So we couldn’t resist celebrating the lockdown’s most special, natural and homemade miracles with The Lockdown Lovebaby Collection.
Good Riddance 2020, Great Expectations 2021
Good Riddance 2020 is a dark robust beer with a subtle hoppiness at the end. Similar to 2020, it appears daunting, dark and tastes a little bitter. However, just like 2020, there was a slight silver lining – people got to spend more time with their family and pursue hobbies and activities they never had the time to do in the past. This sweet silver lining is presented as a light caramel sweetness in the beer.
Bursting with bubbles and excitement, Great Expectations 2021 (ABV: 4.5%) represents our hope and expectations for 2021. Crisp, dry and fruity, this effervescent beer resembles a champagne, perfect for celebrating a new hope and a better year. With bright citrusy and tropical fruit aromas, this light beer is easy to drink and will fill you with positivity, optimism and something to look forward to.
“You do not mess with Texas”
To announce a multi-state, anti-competition lawsuit against Google, the Texas Attorney General has released a video that stands out for its theatricality. It opens with a fast-cut montage of news reports, and closes with this warning:
It’s time for them to learn the hard way that you do not mess with Texas.
Système U – Goldfish
The obsession for customer care is taken to an epic extreme in this absurdly entertaining ad for the French retail chain.
A Rousing Send-off to 2020
I’ve seen a few different ‘FU 2020’ videos but nothing quite as energetic and heartfelt as this video.
Pure Sh*t
If you had to decide on a name for a brand of organic manure, could there be a more straightforward choice than this?
The packaging describes it as “2020 Strength” manure. The hilarious campaign video clarifies things thus:
It’s 2020. A year that really needs no introduction. But you know what they say. When life gives you lemons, bag up some garden-ready cow manure, and brand it “Pure Sh*t”. Inspired by the year we’ve all had.
RIP John le Carré
A short selection of memorable lines from his books:
A desk is a dangerous place from which to watch the world.
-The Honourable Schoolboy
“You are a perfect spy. All you need is a cause.”
-A Perfect Spy
All men are born free: just not for long.
-A Murder of Quality
It is also the pardonable vanity of lonely people everywhere to assume they have no counterparts.
-The Honourable Schoolboy
The more identities a man has, the more they express the person they conceal.
-Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
R C Cola and the Art of Courting Gen Z
From the Philippines: first, there was this commercial that went viral- one of the most bizarre and bewildering ads that I have seen this year, from outside of Japan. Barely two weeks later, we have a follow-up commercial.
Why? Going by this explanation, these ads are “an ode to Gen Z that portends to the future of advertising where there are no rules”.
American Red Cross- Piano
The latest ad for the American Red Cross puts across a powerful message with stunning simplicity.
Food Influencers Taste Dog Food
To put it more accurately, they were invited for the tasting, without being told that it was dog food that they would be sampling. The idea, it seems, was for Singaporean natural dog food brand, Furry’s Kitchen, to show how “premium” its product is. Here’s a link to the campaign video.
When Dating Met 2020
Helena Bonham Carter oozes witty charm as she bats for the cause of single women and ticks off the challenges of dating in 2020 in this new commercial for dating app, Bumble.
Pringles- Crave the Uncomfortable
If you like cringe comedy, then this commercial for Pringles Scorchin’ is absolutely worth checking out.
Illinois Lottery- Claude
The annoying antics of an adorable hamster named Claude, are at the heart of this charming commercial with a priceless punchline.
It seems that the people behind Illinois Lottery are betting big on the cuteness of Claude. They’ve put out a website with videos of Claude. It has an option to click and see what things might “scratch his fancy”.
Amart- Free Fall
From Australia: a marvellously oddball commercial that features a sofa in free fall from a height of 15,000 feet, and which dwells on what the sofa might be thinking. Here’s a link.
So delicious, you’ll look past anything
From South Africa: a commercial that is ridiculously laughable, yet surprisingly effective. Here’s a link.
A Kid’s Lockdown
A little girl goes on an endearing rant about how bad 2020 has been, in this year-end commercial from McDonald’s Belgium.
Ars Jet- Hide
From Thailand: a commercial that, believe it or not, compares husbands with mosquitoes (well, some husbands). Here’s a link.
Take Care
This 3 minute commercial for Dutch pharmacy company, DocMorris, tells a touching tale of an aged, former athlete who, for an unstated reason, feels the need to lift weights, and get back into shape. It has a wonderful central performance, and a heartwarming reveal.
Take a Baby Step into Parenting
Planning to start a family? How about adopting a dog to start with? That’s the pitch from Pedigree New Zealand in a hilarious campaign that includes wacky videos and even a slide deck with some very persuasive graphics.
To top it all, there’s a cheeky disclaimer in fine print:
The facts in this document may have been embellished, or even fabricated, for the good of dogs.
Match Made in Hell
Can a love story get any more surreal than this? Satan and 2020 are imagined as a perfectly matched couple in this whimsical commercial for dating website, Match.com.
Put Some Clothes On, Man
This quirky 70 second film is the first in a series of satirical shorts called ‘Lowest Common Denominator’. As per the description on the YouTube channel, the series is aimed at “dealing with ignorance, stupidity and hypocrisy one sarcastic slap at a time”.
Drive like Gran’s in the car
If you drive like an arse, you deserve a matronly scolding. That’s the message across this quaintly endearing Scottish road safety campaign targeted at young drivers, that kicked off last year. The latest commercial in the series adds some ovine admonishment as well.