Bestads Six of the Best reviewed by Andy Flemming, group CD, M&C Saatchi, Sydney

Each week Bestads picks the very best advertising in the world, in every medium – which is reviewed by a top creative director or team to select their own personal favourites.

This week’s guest judge is Andy Flemming, group creative director, M&C Saatchi, Sydney.

BEST TV

Throw tinsel, animation, uplifting Pixar style music, robins, snow, mince pies, fantastic voyages and a tear on the face of a golden child into a grinder and you’ve got yourself a Christmas ad. After the incomparable Adam & Eve set the standard a few years ago it seems everyone in London wants an epic slice of emotional toss. Whether it’s Mrs Claus spending half the production budget on aerial helicopter shots or a clay Dad realising that he’s the ultimate Christmas present, we seem to lose our minds and write spots that have the words ‘audience cries here’ in the scripts. I know it sounds very bah humbug of me, but I’m writing this in Sydney and my fucking air con’s broken so I’m about as Christmassy as a novelty cluster bomb. There is, however, an island of hope in the sea of post Christmas dinner vomit and it’s from the Spanish Lottery of all people. In a faultlessly shot film, an old lady mistakenly thinks she’s won the thing and her village rallies together to celebrate. It has more humanity and Christmas joy than any of the others and probably cost a tenth of the price. There’s also the fact that the film celebrates someone NOT winning the lottery, so points to the agency for a very hard sell and a stunning piece of film. I loved the alien spot for VW too as it’s a lovely product demonstration (and I really like aliens) but my bulging parcel goes to El Gordo (whatever that means.) READ MORE…