Ewan McGregor - Davidoff Adventure

21 February 2008 by Silky

Here’s a tale for you…

I found myself on a tedious journey. The scent of car fumes in the air. Leading me further and further into the abyss. Every smell, every step, every sight made me want to go home. Until I found myself in a place where I saw something magnificent… I saw an empty space in the Tesco car park on a Saturday afternoon.

For that’s about as much as an adventure as the average British male will ever experience regardless of what they might dream about:

Now, I really like Ewan McGregor, (bizarre Star Wars accent excluded) I think he’s a believable actor, I think he makes some good choices and, what’s more, he seems like a very nice, down to Earth, amusing chap.

I secretly wish he was my best friend.

But he is too worthy by half in this advert for Davidoff Adventure aftershave. Plus the painful crow barring of “the scent of adventure in the air” into his tale of personal discovery makes me recreate the scene from Home Alone when Macaulay Culkin puts on aftershave each time I hear it.

Come on Ewan, you’re better than this.

Update

Here’s the very amusing and well made parody of the ad as linked to by eieio in the comments below. Superb.

35Responses:

Mike Empuria

February 22nd, 2008 6:03 am

About 19 seconds in he says “Further and further into the realms of the extraordinary” and holds up a stick insect. What’s so extraordinary about stick insects? We had loads at primary school. Not much adventure there!
Nicola Dipple

February 22nd, 2008 8:39 pm

I can’t believe that Ewan has sold out in this way. Its not even a good advert and he comes across as a total prat in it.
A part of me keeps thinking that its a spoof and its supposed to be that bad. I wish I was right!
Jonny Chestwig

February 23rd, 2008 7:54 pm

Davidoff Adventure: In no way copying the theme of the Dunhill Pursuit Advert from last year where someone rides into the Savannah on a classic motorbike after spraying on an Amber coloured perfume.

Cocks
Michaela Smith

February 23rd, 2008 8:52 pm

Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear !!! what was he thinking of ?

It is such a terrible ad I thought it was a piss-take ….but sadly not .

I hope they paid him a shed load of dosh to do it ‘cos he looks a right div !!
Joanna Butler

February 23rd, 2008 11:56 pm

awful awful advert…….
Spiritualized

February 25th, 2008 9:40 am

Really really awful, I thought it was a trailer for his dull show about travelling around the desert on a motorbike. “Look I’m a big Hollywood star but I still hang out with me school mates, aren’t I great?”
OBI WAN

February 25th, 2008 2:16 pm

“Use The Farce Ewan”

Can’t just be me wiping the vomit from my mouth after seeing that commercial
Blimey O'Reilly

February 25th, 2008 3:23 pm

Dire! Don’t give up the day job Ewan…………
Sashalize

February 27th, 2008 10:10 am

What is wrong with you people - the ad encapsulates what Ewan’s all about - the open road on his motorcyle. Clearly none of you ride bikes or have experienced anything similar - he suits the spirit of the fragrance and only agreed to do “Adventure” as he feels it accurately represents one of his biggest passions. Do your homework and stop slating things for the sake of - it is indicative of low self esteem and ignorance.
Silky

February 27th, 2008 11:20 am

Thanks for your comment, Sashalize. You’ve struck on what I dislike so much about this advert.

We all know that famous people get paid to flog products in adverts. Yeah, yeah, so what?

Selling out your fame is one thing but Ewan is selling out his passion. He’s cashing in on something he clearly really enjoys doing. What a shame.

Plus, surely actually believing the bollocks that marketing departments come up with, such as a “fragrance” having a spirit, is more indicative of low self esteem and ignorance.
lynk

February 27th, 2008 1:11 pm

Laurence Olivier did ads for cigarettes and cameras; John Gielgud promised us that no wine would be sold before its time; David Niven hawked Friskies pet food & Sean Connery whisky (Japanese whisky at that). If McG is to be criticized as a sell-out, at least he’s in fine company.

Whatever McG’s choices–whether it be a film, a play, or supporting a specific charity–they have been his choices and motivated by an idea/theme that appeals to him on some personal level. Any actor doing adverts doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Of course, Mrs. McG joining him on his recent motorbike trip caused a similar uproar–and that didn’t bother me either.
liam

February 27th, 2008 4:19 pm

but arent all fragrance adverts over the top, and a bit extreme? and for those wondering it does smell good, i bought it.
Jim

February 29th, 2008 8:30 pm

What a sell out. Stupid “celebs”
Jonathan Fox

March 2nd, 2008 6:27 pm

the Purple Cow by Seth Godin immediately springs to mind. Have advertising agencies not learned anything? They are stuck in a time warp. This format of advert might have worked in the 1970’s when something like this seemed exotic but most of us can get on a bike and most people are well traveled these days.

We’ve seen the reality of the long way round and also the long way down and so with that in our minds this ad just looks ridiculous. I like Ewan and cant for the life of me understand why he took on an ad like this. He’s made a lot of money off the back of those two series… why spoil the ship for a ha’penny weorth of tar.

I have a bottle of Davidoff in the bathroom. I ride a motorbike, I have the long way round/down DVD’s and thats all cool… but this…. this is lame!
Voodoo

March 2nd, 2008 7:53 pm

well to be honest i liked it,i don’t see what everyone is getting so uptight about, plus like liam said all adverts are over the top i don’t see people turning into a chocolate person using lynx
dave roberts

March 4th, 2008 1:28 am

We couldn’t believe it when we saw the ad! What I’d like to know is what planet the ad guys were on. Just the most cringe-worthy ad I’ve seen in ages. I’m a biker and I think “The long way..” programmes are great, first one better than the last admittedly. Even my wife enjoys watching them and that’s an achievement, believe me! I really like Ewan. Not so fussed about Charlie, but this ad is just puke making. Does he need the cash or what?
Genevieve

March 4th, 2008 1:38 am

I thought the ambiance and cinematography was beautiful and encapsulating. I can understand where one ‘might’ perceive that Ewan is selling out his passion, but I think he is trying to share it in an intriguing form. Sure, we all know that a fragrance won’t make you an adventurer, but it’s the sought after dream and feel that you yearn that draws you to the cologne. Ewan is truly a great spokesperson for the product because he is genuine and has experienced that raw, unbridled adventure that is described.

I really enjoyed it, and of course, am in constant awe of Ewan. And maybe the Scots really did start it all…(I say that as a Canadian) ha ha
Adam

March 4th, 2008 1:02 pm

People who watched Long way round / down, must have noticed that a big part of the adventure was the growing of beards and being generally smelly and dirty, the complete opposite of wearing aftershave. Makes you wonder whats Ewan based smells will come next “Scent of a Jedi”, “whiff of a Heroin addict”
Bobby

March 4th, 2008 7:30 pm

If this louzy shithole dialoge is what comes up in a persons mind after spraying some davidoff on themselves, I wonder what they’ll come up with the next time a tampon commercial will be produced.
This is just sad…..
TWIN

March 5th, 2008 9:53 pm

I dont know what everyone is going on about ewan selling out.
The plain and obvious truth is that this advert is absolutely Pish,
extremely gringe worthy, I`m sure I can hear dogs howl in the street when its on.I am a scot and a biker and have watched all the long ways and loved them and if this advert was to be used as a guide as to ewans acting prowes, I think he would have trouble getting any more work, Ewan, Next time, If there is a next time, make sure you see the final cut before it goes to air,
eieio

March 6th, 2008 2:46 pm

Quick edit to improve the ad :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLwaoBPc32I
Stephanie

March 7th, 2008 1:10 pm

Come on….seeing this ad makes my day! (maybe I’m as sad as many here think the ad is) Maybe it’s no highlight in his carreer but just seeing him makes me think of his charm, talent, good personality and all the joy he’s given me with most of his work.
It a really good fracance by the way, lovely.
Robin

March 7th, 2008 5:40 pm

To me, it’s not that it’s Ewan McGregor who’s sold out to be in a perfume advert, it’s that he’s taken this so called free adventure, a very personal experience, and parlayed it into a business enterprise.
eieio

March 7th, 2008 6:10 pm

What Robin said.
Spot on.
Kym

March 8th, 2008 4:00 pm

Ewan tell us you did it as a bet cos you sold out mate and your street cred isnow zero
Alex

March 9th, 2008 1:35 pm

Who cares? It smells lush, just bought it for my boyfriend.
» Do Not Adjust Your Set

March 11th, 2008 2:27 am

[...] Compulsive Prison Breakery (T, it seems ungrateful, but I feel I must share this with you); smirking at the zen calm of Garfield Minus Garfield; discovering the sprouting lentil; wondering if Ewan McGregor can possibly have needed the money quite this much. [...]
David

March 11th, 2008 12:32 pm

I can see Ewan walking out of the add agencys office with the big fat check in his hand, walking around the corner and then falling over in fits of laughter thinking to himself “oh my god I got away with that tripe”

Funniest thing I’ve seen on TV for a while. thanks Ewan for sticking it to the man
Andy

March 22nd, 2008 1:02 pm

The posts defending this advert are almost as funny (and sad) as the ad itself. Surely, they are ironic but alas probably from googling employees of the agency or PR firm working for the fragrance makers.
moomins

July 28th, 2008 3:12 pm

Just watching the Long Way Round for the first time ever. I really hoped that Ewan was promoting this aftershave in order to give the proceeds to Unicef and nothing else. Sadly this does not seem to be the case, if it were then I could forgive the cheesey advert. Surely having seen the work that this fantastic charity does Ewan could support them in this way.
Discount Perfume Reviews -Discount Mens Cologne - Adventure Cologne

July 28th, 2008 3:18 pm

[...] Ewan McGreggor is the new celebrity pushing Davidoffs New perfume Adventure. Some people are are stating that his [...]
mens cologne

August 1st, 2008 8:35 am

I’m not sure why everyone has got their proverbial panties in a bunch. Google the terms ‘long way down’ and ‘long way around’ and you’ll see where the commercial theme was based on. Based on those two documentaries that he was in, it’s a great way to capture the commercial.
Crimewave

August 2nd, 2008 11:24 am

Introducing…. Sellout by Ewan MacGregor
Cash

August 22nd, 2008 2:31 pm

You’re all whinging because you can’t do the same. If someone came up to you and offered you a fat wad of cash I’m sure you’d do it as well. I know I would…

Just because you don’t agree with it, doesn’t mean that they are selling out. We all sell out every day we turn up to our crummy jobs that we don’t like. He’s just getting paid a crap load more to do less. Nice work if you can get it.

Get over it.
Al

October 3rd, 2008 5:40 pm

Still better than new Star Wars…