'Wedding Crashers' Purple Heart Promotion Angers Vets

Part of the promotional website for the Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn movie Wedding Crashers and a scene within the movie makes reference to the Purple Heart, a military medal of honor. The movie, which, remember, is a movie and not real life, pokes fun at the medal by claiming it gets a guy attention if he wears one with the line, "Carrying a Purple Heart in your jacket guarantees you attention, admiration and plenty of free booze."

While no one wants to diminish the hard work and sacrifices the fine, upstanding people who serve and protect America provide, we might want to remember this is a joke within a movie and not a clandestine operation to provide every sleazy, girl-hunting man with a fake medal to improve his chances of scoring.

Always one to find himself in the middle of a controversy, Animal Magazine Publisher Bucky Turco commented, "While I know a lot of marketing campaigns cross the line here and there what I find most interesting is the cultural context and political atmosphere surrounding this harmless little promotion. Had the war in Iraq not been going on, this download would probably have went off without a hitch and not offended any vets. It could almost be construed as a type of offbeat homage to their bravery and the power of the uniform. Instead, this type of knee jerk reaction is a prime example of cultural shifts during times of war." Never the less, New Line acquiesced and pulled the promotion.

Written by Steve Hall    Comments (0)     File: Promotions     Jul-26-05