Sprint Films: Epic Kiss

I came across this hilarious commercial while looking through Sprint commercials after blogging about the Sprint NFL Mobile commercial that features Peyton Manning. Although the Sprint Epic Kiss commercial comes from the same company, it is completely different in that there is no dialogue besides the narration at the end. Also the Sprint Epic Kiss commercial uses everyday people to act in their commercial opposed to the use of Peyton Manning as a celebrity endorsement. I like this commercial because it made me laugh out loud. At the climax of the commercial a man and woman approach each other in an alley, the girl takes off her glasses and shakes out her hair while giving the man a sexy innocent look. At this point in the commercial the audience is thinking back to the most recent movie containing a cheesy make out scene and then the ad takes a twist. The camera pans to the man who spits out his gum, takes off his glasses, and lets his hair out too. The man proceeds to jump into the woman's arms and kiss her, just as their lips touch it begins to pour rain. I think this spoof on make out scenes is hilarious and original. This humor works for this commercial because they chose to overstate every aspect of a stereotypical make out scene.

HP Beats Audio

This commercial is filmed in rapper and producer Dr. Dre's recording studio in Los Angeles, California. It is advertising HP Beats Audio, a computer with programming specifically for making music, which is designed in collaboration with Dr Dre. The commercial consists of Dr. Dre working in his studio and a dorky guy asking about the product. HP chose not only to use Dr. Dre to endorse their product but also used him in the advertising. By using Dre's status as a rapper and producer they increased their credibility as a company on the breaking edge in the music industry. HP also uses humor specifically by comparing Dr. Dre, who is familiar with current hip-hop music and culture, with a nerdy office guy who is goofy and clueless about HP Beats Audio. Although I like the premise behind the commercial, Dr. Dre's music and productions, and the use of Dre as an endorser of the product, I think they should have spent more time explaining or demonstrating what the product actually does. Overall I like the ad but think that it should have had more dialogue about the product and its features.

Sprint NFL Mobile

This ad is for Sprint NFL Mobile and is staring Peyton Manning, the quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. The commercial is humorous because Peyton is disguised with a wig and a fake moustache, but you can still definitely tell it is him. During the commercial he discusses the many customizable features that Sprint NFL Mobile has. He also explains that Sprint NFL Mobile will make you a better football fan by giving you real time footage and stats. Next Peyton, while acting like the disguise is hiding his identity, states, "You can follow players like Peyton Manning...that is if you like six foot five inch quarterbacks with laser-rocket arms..." This kind of humor works well with Peyton Manning as a well known celebrity endorser who backs Sprint NFL Mobile. The fact that Peyton Manning is a well known celebrity makes the humor more effective, which relates to a more effective advertisement. Another advertisement that follows this theme is the Hanes Lay-Flat Collar commercials with Michael Jordan who is very well known. In the commercial Jordan is on a plane and the passenger next to him pretends to not know who he is, which plays into the humor and theme of the commercial. These two commercials are similar in theory, but I think that Sprint made a more efficient and humorous advertisement.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Call of Duty really stepped up their advertising with this commercial. The first time I saw the new Call of Duty Black Ops commercial I was impressed and found myself watching just to see what happened next. This commercial is aimed at a wide audience of people, the point being that anyone can play. It shows a variety of people playing as if they were actually in the game including a little girl, a construction worker and a well dressed business woman. It even includes several celebrities including Jimmy Kimmel and Kobe Bryant. The sound track playing throughout the commercial goes right along with the tone and content of the advertisement. The hype and advertising that has accompanied the release of this game has been huge, and this commercial helps to expand the market. The campaigns slogan is, "There's a soldier in all of us." By using a diverse range of people in this commercial they are reaching out to new audiences that in general would not play this type of video game. Overall I think that this is one of the best video game commercials I have seen. Not to mention the makers of Black Ops expect, and I'm sure that they will attain, profit directly correlated with the effectiveness of the epic promotion and advertising they put in place.

Miller Lite Love You Commercial

This commercial for Miller Lite is currently being aired. It uses humor associated with the notion of love, the relationship between the couple, and the man's relationship to his Miller Lite. While sitting alone at a bar a couple's conversation turns serious when the female states, "I've been meaning to tell you something..." Her statement catches the attention of the male long enough for her to say that she loves him. After realizing what he had heard, he acted baffled and stuttered as he could not tell her that he loved her. As he stuttered through his poor attempt at proclaiming his love to his girl, the waitress walked up to the table and interrupted. Then she asked, "Would you like another Miller Lite?" and the man enthusiastically responded saying, "I'd love one!" Miller Lite used humor in an attempt to explain the relationship between their beer and the people who consume it, specifically males. This commercial is a part of a series that involves dating and Miller Lite. This specific commercial is stating that the man's relationship to his Miller Lite is more worthy of love than his girlfriend. Although the Miller Lite dating commercial series is funny, I question its efficiency. I think that the way they are attempting to position their product and the statement they are making concerning it is too bold.

Rock it Like Block: Ford Fiesta

This commercial featuring Ken Block, professional rally driver, was created in collaboration with Ford and Monster. It begins as he walks out of his house and gets into his rally modified Ford Fiesta. He explains, "Since I started driving the Fiesta, I can't say my life has changed much. I still have to do the everyday things." Block proceeds to provide a fun and exciting display of his driving skills while simultaneously doing his everyday chores. These chores included taking out a trash bag, which he throws out his window while drifting a turn. Next he zooms pasts his mailbox and throws in his bills, he finishes by doing doughnuts in a grocery store parking lot. As soon as he gets out of his Monster sponsored car, you see that he is dressed head to toe in monster racing gear. Finally he throws in a promo to his website RockitLikeBlock.com, where you can buy merchandise and enter to win a modified Ford Fiesta. The combination of the rally racing, Ken Block as a celebrity endorser, and multiple advertisements, logos, and promotions into one commercial made this ad stand out. As more research is constantly conducted concerning advertising and how to maximize its effectiveness, this advertisement did a good job of trying something new and setting itself apart by using multiple tactics and by giving a consistent theme to entire commercial.

1800 Tequila - Shot Top Commercial

With several competitors in the tequila game, 1800 had to take a risk and try a new approach to their advertising. This fifteen second television advertisement for 1800 Tequila uses several different advertising techniques to position their tequila. The ad consists of "Christopher" from The Sopranos as the celebrity endorser. He is dressed well in a suit and tie, his hair pulled back, looking very cool. First he picks up the bottle of 1800 and gives a demonstration of how to use the shot top. This addition to their bottle was a big part of their new line of ads in attempt to position the product as cool or stylish. This brand image is also reflected in the choice of the use of a Sopranos character as their celebrity endorsement. Although the market audience may not make the direct connection to The Sopranos series, they understand the image he is portraying. "Christopher" even goes as far as to state, "That's cool!" after he watched the bottle poor a shot. Then asked "What can your bottle do?...Nothing!". 1800 is deliberately comparing the two products in attempt to make Patron Tequila look out dated. In general I liked the advertisement, especially the idea of manipulating the appearance of the product in order to reposition it.