KGB hitches its wagon to 'Sherlock Holmes'

Info-by-text service KGB underscores its status as an anachronism of near-Victorian proportions by doing all manner of cross-promotions with the new Sherlock Homes film. Above is the TV spot from the Brooklyn Brothers. Gone are the sexual and racial stereotypes of the client's ads from the recent past. That's good, but why couldn't they take those two geeky blue-garbed answer-drones with them? That's my question for KGB, but I doubt if they'd text back an answer. When I want misinformation, I'll try Google, Bing, social media and that guy who works in the mailroom. They answer questions for free, so at least I'll be getting my money's worth.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on December 16, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Brooklyn Brothers, Gianatasio, KGB, Movies

So, tell me again why vampires like Volvos?

Of all the inexplicable tie-ins, I would never have guessed Volvo and Twilight. The rationale is that Volvo keeps you safe, and vampires keep you safe! Well, not vampires in general, just Edward the Shiny. And how does Edward keep you safe? Well, he cares enough to drive a car meant for middle-aged women. Now, I'm not a Twi-hard or a Twi-hater, but this is possibly one of the worst collaborations I've seen since My Own Worst Enemy turned out to be GM's worst enemy. When the Twilight commercial I thought I was watching magically turned into a Volvo commercial, I knew it was going to be bad. I was right. They directed me to a Web site, WhatDrivesEdward.com, where I stared into Edward's sulky eyes and was asked to solve a six-part puzzle for a chance to win the same Volvo he drives in the movie. At that point, it was over between Volvo and me. But I wish Volvo (and agencies Euro RSCG 4D and Arnold) lots of luck in their attempt to convince moms to make major purchases based on the lust-crazed whims of their teenage daughters.

—Posted by Rebecca Cullers

Published on November 16, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (8)
Filed under Arnold, Automotive, Cullers, Euro RSCG, Movies, Volvo

Disney frog getting leg up from Geico gecko

The Martin Agency has cobbled together a cute Geico tie in with Disney's new movie The Princess and the Frog. In the spot, the frog prince Skypes the gecko to ask for advice about un-frogging himself and instead learns how he can save hundreds by switching to Geico. There doesn't seem to be anything to the tie-in beyond this one spot. And the only connection seems to be that the lizard and the frog are both small, talking, green things (OK, the frog's more of a sandy beige) with adorable accents. But who cares how they relate? Little greenish/beige spokescreatures are cute.

—Posted by Rebecca Cullers

Previously on AdFreak:
Geico's gecko is still seeking YouTube glory
Why Geico's gecko is now a cockney yob

Published on November 11, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Cullers, Geico, Insurance, Martin Agency, Movies

U.K. refuses to condemn 'Antichrist' sex ads

Lars von Trier's new movie, Antichrist, is provoking outrage all over the place, so it's only natural that the ads are causing a stink, too. A number of British people are ticked off about posters like this one (warning: slightly more butt!), showing the film's main characters having sex in front of a tree, which appears to be growing human hands. The Ad Standards Authority, which often gives amusing reasons for condemning or pardoning ad campaigns, is giving this one a pass, ruling that it's "unlikely to cause sexual excitement." The ruling also said: "The dream-like context, introduced by the hands protruding from the tree, had the effect of making the image of the naked couple seem removed from reality." So, expect lots more dream-sequence butt shots in British ads in future.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on November 4, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1)
Filed under Controversy, Europe, Movies, Nudd

Here's the feel-bad movie tagline of the year

Sherlock Holmes is premiering on Christmas Day, and to make sure you don't forget, they've come up with a cringe-worthy tagline: "Holmes for the holiday." For copywriters who worry that no one pays attention to taglines, this should allay your fears. Blogs far and wide are whining about this one. Movie Cultists says it's "the kind of tagline pun you'd expect from Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel." I've seen it also described as "cutesy," "hilariously awful," "stupid" and "groan-worthy." But my favorite comment was from Movie Poster Addict, which asks, "Are we supposed to consider this to be an example of the supreme wit that will be displayed by Sherlock in the movie?" To top-hat it off, Videogum believes this tagline is so appalling that they are challenging their readers to come up with one that's worse. They're confident no one will. There are some fine contenders, however, like: "More funk. More fun. Morphine." Think you can do better? Or rather, worse? Fire away! Or should I say, Sherlock and load.

—Posted by Rebecca Cullers

Published on October 30, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (6)
Filed under Cullers, Movies

Ads promise highly odd Vancouver film fest

The movies featured at this year's Vancouver International Film Festival (running through Oct. 16) are not guaranteed to have fully developed characters, interesting settings or compelling plot lines. But they will have bestiality, nonsense and subtitles. That's the somewhat questionable promise made in the three mock-warning ads above, from TBWA\Vancouver. It's not exactly a ringing endorsement of independent film (who really wants to see "a ridiculously out-of-place dance scene and an ending so arbitrary it's almost genius"?), but it does suggest an upside to movies like these: You might not enjoy or even understand them, but they will challenge you in some way, if you're up for it. Thus, the tagline: "An open mind is advised." This is par for the course for TBWA and the VIFF, which have worked together for 15 years. Last year's ads showed people reacting nonchalantly to bizarre post-festival happenings in their everyday lives. The tagline explained: "After 16 days of film, nothing will faze you."

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Previously on AdFreak:
Vancouver's film audiences have seen it all

Published on October 6, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1)
Filed under Movies, Nudd, TBWA, VIFF

You will not escape Sony's '2012' marketing

So, you've probably already seen the clip above for 2012. How could you not? Sony Pictures brags that the rollout of this two-minute clip was "the largest broadcast, cable, online and mobile media preview ever orchestrated." It was telecast last night in a giant "roadblock" between 10:50 p.m. and 11 p.m. EST on ABC, CBS, NBC, 89 cable networks, local stations in the top 70 markets and Spanish-language networks. But if you somehow neglected to watch TV during those 10 minutes, you can see a full five minutes of preview footage over at Comcast or Fancast. Intrusive, overbearing ad blitzes not doing it for you? No worries. They've already got their fictional campaign going on over at IHC: The Institute for Human Continuity, where you can vote for the leader of the world after 2012 and register for the survival lottery. Or you can check out the Farewell Atlantis site for Jackson Curtis's (John Cusack's) novel. Or ThisIsTheEnd.com, the blog of character Charlie Frost (Woody Harrelson). Every one of them has a YouTube channel, and you can follow them on Twitter. There are so many sites, I can't cover them in 200 words. It's like they decided to try every marketing technique simultaneously, and in the next few months it will only get worse. The apocalypse can't come soon enough.

—Posted by Rebecca Cullers

Published on October 2, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2)
Filed under Cullers, Movies, Sony Pictures