Guinness - Dominos | TV's Worst Adverts

Guinness - Dominos

10 November 2007 by Silky

So there was I just the other day lamenting that Honda seems to have lost it’s way a little since the “Cogs” advert and along comes the new advert from Guinness:

Hhm, more than a little similar to the “Cogs” ad, wouldn’t you say?

Maybe, maybe not.

I get the feeling that a lot of the guys who make these ads simply lusted after Domino Rally as kids. Now they’re big boys, they’re just getting the opportunity to act out their fantasies.

The trouble I have with Guinness adverts is that to live up to their “Good things come to those who wait” tag line some of their adverts are way too long. This latest advert is no exception but puts a twist on that theme by being really dull too. By the time it got the end, I was half way through the Times crossword. And not the Quick one; the Cryptic one. And I’m shit at crosswords.

Anyway, for those of you who couldn’t make it to the end of the advert, it ends with a shot of a giant pint of Guinness. Now, what does that remind me of….

7Responses:

Phil

November 11th, 2007 9:03 am

Seems to me like every advertiser is obsessed with the trend for “big stunts” at the moment.

Think Sony’s recent “Music Like No Other” campaign, or the Brylcreem ads with that guy who does everything really easily (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE1U6tLM-3E).

It all goes hand in hand, in my opinion, with the overall penchant that modern hipsters (ie influencers, to the marketers among you) have for adopting “geeky” mannerisms. Thick glasses, tight jeans, loving “viral” campaigns, etc etc. Massive domino rallies fit into this perfectly. The idea that an advert requires painstaking preparation, is incredibly challenging to shoot, and is only very obscurely related to the subject matter…it’s incredibly fashionable right now. Look no further than Fallon’s last 3 efforts for Sony if you want any more proof.
Silky

November 11th, 2007 2:02 pm

Yeah, I agree Phil.

Although not a big stunt, your comment made me think of the K-Swiss Hacky Sack advert. Exceptional degree of geekiness is involved but passing itself of as very cool.
Linda

November 13th, 2007 9:43 pm

I liked this one! But then I’m from the other side of the pond where the ads are really crap! If you built an American site, I’d vote everyday I’m sure!
Silky

November 14th, 2007 7:04 am

Thanks for that Linda. It’s nice to get feedback from someone whose opinion you respect (I stalk you on various forums (but in a friendly way)).

Of course, I’d love to open an American version of this site… it’s just I don’t get to see any American adverts

Maybe I need to start syndicating TWA around the World!
Simon

November 14th, 2007 12:49 pm

It is a piece of piss being an ad creative these days. All you do is sit around picking the best bits out of You Tube and illustrators web sites then the trick is to post-rationalise why this “concept” is appropriate to the product to be advertised. Actually the creatives don’t even have to be good at doing the selling bit as the Account Executives do that bit.

This ad is just a straight rip off of those Japanese students doing that “crazy Domino rally’ stunt in their appartment. You will find the vid on YouTube. If you are going to copy your ideas make sure you can hide the original.
Jellyfish McSaveloy

February 5th, 2008 8:25 pm

It’s not the worst ad in the world but it’s not eactly ground breaking either. Bring back the surfer.
Granny Farts

June 17th, 2008 11:49 am

I agree advertisers are in a battle to pull of the biggest stunts, or the advert for having the weirdest, catchiest little tune, which is popular among mobile phone networks ( vodafone, orange, 3, t-mobile). I think they would do beter now if they just had a blank screen for 30 seconds with a slogan in black writing saying “BUY GUINNESS YOU DICKS”. People would be more interested.