Hails & Fails – November 11th 2022
We’re on the cusp of Christmas (44 days to be exact!), which means one thing – it’s Christmas advert season! The fabulous (and some not so fabulous) campaigns are stacking up. John Lewis knocked it out the park with a tear-jerking tale, Aldi delighted us all again with everyone’s favourite vegetable, and Asda released a Christmas cracker of its own. It was a tougher week for Morrisons – this year’s Xmas ad turkey.
HAILS
John Lewis leaves not a dry eye in the house
The John Lewis Christmas advert is one of the most talked about campaigns every festive season – and the brand has come up trumps once again.
The 90 second feature, titled ‘The Beginner’, takes a toned down approach to focus on a serious issue by raising awareness about children in care.
While making a serious point, the brand manages to maintain its signature charm with touches of humour and a poignant song cover.
John Lewis have to be lauded for their principled approach this year – covering a subject that’s bigger than Christmas.
Kevin the Carrot strikes again
Aldi released a festive treat for the eyes of its own this week.
The supermarket’s Xmas ad yet again features everybody’s favourite root vegetable, Kevin the Carrot – after several years of starring performances.
This time, in homage to Christmas classic Home Alone, Kevin goes head to head with a cast of burglars after being left on his own.
With a brilliant voiceover by acting royalty Jim Broadbent to boot and the iconic film’s soundtrack ringing in the background, what’s not to love?
Congrats to Aldi on once again securing headlines galore across the board once again – all thanks to their leading man!
ASDA snags a Hollywood star
Some say ASDA won Christmas before it ever really began, and we have to agree. First to release is always a risky move, so you’ve got to go big or go home and they went Hollywood big.
The supermarket partnered with Warner Bros to bring funny man, Will Ferrel, as the nation’s favourite Christmas character, Buddy the Elf, to our screens – almost 20 years after the film was released.
Using clips from the original film, Buddy wreaks 90 seconds of havoc through an Asda store; pestering staff, chowing down on pigs in blankets and belting a tune out over the store tannoy system.
Festive fun at its finest, winning coverage and kudos aplenty.
FAILS
Morrisons is this year’s Christmas turkey
This year it’s Morrisons that gets a lump of coal for its underwhelming, (not-so) festive instalment, which fails to capture the imagination and the magic of Christmas.
Farmer Christmas appears for the second year in a row, as he goes on a whistlestop food tour through a Santa’s workshop of sorts. YAWN.
Some sequels just aren’t needed.
The 60 second ad lacks excitement, wit or much cheer – functional, forgettable and not remotely fun.
The lack of social sharing and column inches speaks volumes.
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