Consider this the counterpart to the classic “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” for the YouTube age. Volkswagen and agency Deutsch look to tap into similarly positive, harmonious vibes with their Super Bowl teaser ad, “Sunny Side,” which presents a series of online meltdowns captured in YouTube freakout videos. The folks melting down, though, in “Sunny Side,” take a 180-degree turn of attitude as they get together with reggae musician Jimmy Cliff to sing the kitschy 1960s’ classic “C’mon Get Happy” of Partridge Family fame. The teaser hearkens back to a simpler, more optimistic time when we didn’t let ourselves get bogged down in and by the little things.
The notables who went from meltdown to uplifted in “Sunny Side” include such YouTube celebs as: the Eharmony cat-hugging woman; the sad Packers fan; “Boogie,” the guy who destroys his Xbox because someone called him fat; the baseball coach who throws a tantrum at an umpire; the screaming politician; and the sports mascots who fight each other.
The freakout videos captured were “Cat Girl,” “Packers Girl,” “Xbox Guy,” “Baseball Manager,” “Golfer,” “Political Candidate” and “Winnebago.”
The VW teaser continues a mini-tradition for the advertiser. Last year, its “The Bark Side” was a deft teaser/promo for “The Dog Strikes Back” in which a dog needs to slim down so he can get through his doggy door and chase the new VW Beetle in the great outdoors (with a nod to the 2011 hit VW Super Bowl commercial “The Force” coming at the end when patrons at the Star Wars cantina bar give the new spot a thumbs up–with a little prodding from Darth Vader).
Here’s “Sunny Side” directed by the Perloriain Brothers of MJZ, with visual effects by The Mill:
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More