Baker Smith of harvest films directed this :60 spot starring the AFLAC duck–but uncharacteristically our feathered friend never quacks the brand cry “AFLAC.” In fact, the duck is silent throughout this spot as we see him progress through sessions of physical therapy, initially barely able to climb stairs, lift weights or paddle in the water.
A voiceover explains that AFLAC insurance eliminates having to worry about how to pay for expenses like groceries, child care and rent, thus helping people to focus on what really matters–their recovery from injury or illness.
The Rocky III anthem “Eye of the Tiger” kicks in as we see the duck progressing rapidly in the gym, cheered on by his human trainer/physical therapist. The duck is eventually able to climb the stairs, lift weights with his wings, jump rope and paddle at a brisk pace.
For more on the duck’s rehab, a website address–ducktherapy.com–appears on screen.
Agency was Publicis Kaplan Thaler, New York.
Review: Director Ben Taylor’s “Joy”
Toward the end of Netflix's "Joy," the muffled cry of a newborn baby prompts a man and woman in a hospital to embrace out of pure bliss. They aren't the parents, but they had as much to do with the birth as the mom and dad.
This charming and winning movie charts the decade-long true story of how the world's first IVF baby was born in England in 1978 — a 5-pound, 12-ounce girl who paved the way for millions more. It's an upbeat, very English affair, mixing sober discussion of endometriosis with chocolate biscuits.
The couple embracing that day were pioneering scientist Robert Edwards and Jean Purdy, a young nurse and embryologist. Together with surgeon Patrick Steptoe, the trio succeeded with in vitro fertilization, a method of treating infertility. Edwards would go on to win the Nobel Prize.
"Joy" has been birthed at a time when science is under threat in America — even IVF — so it's downright inspiring to see plucky, smart scientists working hard to change the world. "What we're doing, it matters," says Steptoe, played with quiet economy by Bill Nighy.
"Joy" is the personal stories of the three scientists — mostly through the eyes of Purdy, a polite lab-coated warrior. "If I hear a commotion, I'm not very good at staying out of it," she says. Perfectly played by Thomasin McKenzie, Purdy is both vulnerable and strong, learning through the process to be a better human. James Norton plays Edwards with charm, self-doubt and calm spirit.
Jack Thorne's script nicely explains the massive pressure the trio faced. IVF may have become common and uncontroversial over the last decades, but back in the late '70s it was experimental and shunned. The Anglican church called it a sin, the newspapers labeled it Frankenstein-ish and other... Read More