Scharpling: “A masterpiece. De Niro is so good in this. Paced out well, legitimately funny, not just ‘commercial funny.’ Also showcased the product extremely well. Kinda perfect!”
Khilnani: “I really appreciate this ad because I have always wondered if Robert De Niro eats food. The whole parent/child dynamic was really relatable. The rough indifferent shell of De Niro and the wanting/needing/craving love of this man child—does the entire world have daddy issues? I know I do. Well, I don’t, but I kind of do.”
Sabina Braless “Baifern Meets the Family” by Sour Bangkok
Barkley: “The commitment to the joke was unwavering—when we thought it was over, it wasn’t. Giving the brand not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, but six times to get their messaging across. And all women will love this bra.”
Buechele: “This works on a strictly ‘show the product a ton’ level, but the comedy needs to heighten more. We’re basically seeing the same beat four times. Let’s see the kitchen staff cooking in only their bras. Let’s see a delivery guy in a bra on a moped.”
Scharpling: “A solid spot, maybe goes on a little too long for the premise. But the writing and the direction is at a high level, can’t knock the craft. I could’ve done without the button being ‘aren’t old people gross?’”
Kessler: “This is a standout to me. The editing and performances are perfect—dry and expertly timed. Not to mention it’s hard working, I actually take away the product benefit really clearly. Excellent ad.”
Khilnani: “I loved this ad, but it was two bras too many. Usually ads showcase the brand, not every model. We get it. These bras are supportive and make these women feel comfortable. The whole ‘gotcha’ aspect of ad is fun, but there’s a definite number of times before it becomes overdone. The grandmother at the end was my favorite.”
Dramamine “The Last Barf Bag” by FCB Chicago
Barkley: “It had me engaged at the beginning. Well shot, well executed. I would have much preferred to stay with [barf bag collector] Bruce Kelly a little longer, and I wish his note was written from a plane or boat. And maybe it wasn’t about Dramamine but about how he was glad he had this barf bag with him for the moments leading up to when his Dramamine kicked in.”
Khilnani: “I learned more in this ad than I did in four years in college. Can barf bags be the next Birkin? I would have liked to spend more time with the collectors and their most prized possessions. Also, did they only collect bags from flights they’ve flown, or could they ask their friends, families, neighbors to get them bags, or are they allowed to buy them off eBay? As you can see, I have more questions about the barf bags and not so much about Dramamine.”
