Election ’08 Ad Watch: Viva Los Vegas
See also: Slot machines, roll the dice
First Impressions: Thank God they’re back to cheesy attack ads! More than a week of warm, fuzzy, sweater vested Steve, and I might have started to like the guy.
Ad Intent: I think this one is pretty self explanatory.
Tagline: Let’s not risk it all on Stephane Dion. Get it? Dice! Risk! Get it?
Things that work: The gambling metaphor gets used so often in politics, I’m inclined to think it’s brilliantly simple to go literal on it. (btw, as I think about it, “brilliantly simple” may be the best way to describe the Harper government)
Things that don’t work: Is there anyone who seriously believes Dion will raise the GST? Maybe it will fool some people but that’s a bullshit argument right up there with “Stephen Harper will ban abortions” if I ever heard one.
Playing the Odds: You know, if every Canadian who has ever played scratch ‘n win, slot machines, or craps, votes for Dion, we’re probably looking at a Liberal majority.
Cliché Score: 1. Yeah, they’re a bit cheesy, but the only cliché point I could give it was for “shrugy Dion” which wouldn’t even be a cliché, if not for the fact that variations on that picture have donned conservative.ca daily for the past year and a half.
On the air? Has anyone seen these ads on TV yet?
Grade: C+. It does what it’s supposed to, but there’s a certain “been there, done that” to it.
Reader Grade:
Previous Ads: See the softer side of Steve, Bad actors love Harper, Jack Attack, THE Green Shift,
Labels: election ads
posted by calgarygrit at
7:52 a.m.
9 Comments:
Undecided on a grade....
I too note how literal they push the "gambling" thing. Silly politics, but 'genius' marketing.
But overall, it's a silly ad. I can see this kind of cheese coming from the NDP or Greens more easily.
By
Jacques Beau Vert, at 9:42 a.m.
I've not seen this on TV yet, still seeing a lot of Sleeveless Sweater Steve.
People say these types of ads are juvenile, or unpolished, but when they come on TV, people watch them..while they tend to tune out the gradioise mini-art movies, like the Liberal ad in your previous post.
Ugly yes, but also effective.
By
le politico, at 10:17 a.m.
This comment has been removed by the author.
By
sir john a., at 10:50 a.m.
You know - the ads overall this election has been of very POOR quality - could have been homeproduced almost ... isn't there any smart brains working at ANY of the campaign headquarters?
By
mezba, at 11:11 a.m.
I actually think the negative ads are more for the web.
The sweater ads have been on every single Canadian station about ten times a nght. It's a virtual blanket.
Meanwhile, I have not seen one Liberal ad on television.
By
Anonymous, at 12:34 p.m.
If the Tories are airing sweater Steve rather than the cheesy attack ads, that should give people an idea of which ads THEY think are more effective.
By
calgarygrit, at 1:09 p.m.
They're cementing their platform of Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt.
By
Anonymous, at 1:11 p.m.
I wish their positive ads were schmaltzy like this. I'm an "Honest Ed" Conservative!
If I ran an attack ad though, I would focus on the favourite movies of the leaders (based on their facebook accounts)
Jack Layton: Star Wars. Wow, there's a real film connaisseur.
Stephen Harper: Raising Arizona, Lost in Translation and Crimes and Misdemeanors. The Coen Bros. are part of any winning combination.
Stephane Dion: Lawrence of Arabia. Ooh, I'm Stephane Dion, I like boring-ass silver screen movies (more likely this was a safe pick from a staffer. Layton's likely wasn't, given the high likelihood that any given NDP staffer is an unemployed film/English major).
By
french wedding cat, at 8:09 p.m.
Are you dissin' Star Wars? >:(
By
Anonymous, at 9:40 a.m.
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