Wendy's. Tree-Kicking. Revolution. What?

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We should start by saying that by the time we got to watching this ad for Wendy's by Saatchi & Saatchi, we were already a bit out-of-sorts because the eagle in this Unicast ad kept squawking. Eagles are just generally really distracting. They are exactly the opposite of ninjas.

Anyway, this Wendy's piece involves communal tree-kicking and a burger-inspired epiphany by a guy wearing the Wendy's girl wig. We're not really sure why. And if it does nothing else, the spot decently demonstrates that people who do stupid crap as a team will probably band together behind something equally inane.

To be fair, though, we'd rather watch this ad than another I'm-Lovin'-It rehash.

by Angela Natividad    May-25-07   Click to Comment   
Topic: Commercials, Strange, Television   

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Comments



Comments

Personally, I found the spot amusing. I couldn't look away. And, it's one of the first times I can remember hearing the message that Wendy's burgers are fresh not frozen. So, it may be a bit strange, but I'd give it a thumbs up for being effective.

Posted by: Ila Scott-Ford on May 25, 2007 2:05 PM

I have to agree. It's one of the first times, in a long time, that I actually found myself saying, "you know, maybe I'll try [insert product]." I'll tell you this, the Wendy's spot and the JC Penny Spot are MUCH better than say the Burger King "King" spots or the McDonalds "I'm Loving It" creative.

Posted by: Adam on May 27, 2007 11:43 PM

I'm having Wendy's right now. It's equal parts ad and an affinity for French fries.

Posted by: Angela on May 28, 2007 12:09 AM

"the spot decently demonstrates that people who do stupid crap as a team will probably band together behind something equally inane".

Well said.

I think the ad breaks a few rules. First of all, "it's about the food, stupid" and the spot has almost no food shots.

Secondly, by depicting their customer prospects as zombie like sheep, they are being insulting.This just shows the arrogance of our holier than thou creatives living in their bubbles.

Wendy's has been all over the place since the Dave Thomas ads stopped. The strategy must say "throw stuff on wall, observe what sticks".

The fact that the ad blatantly rips off Apple 1984 I guess is not a concern in this shamelessly derivative industry of ours.

By the way, I don't put much stock in advice that comes from a confused guy who wears a little girl's wig, even though he tells us he can rip apart a phonebook. By the looks of this wimp, that particular claim is just another assault on believability.

Posted by: Patty Frozen on May 30, 2007 8:30 AM

Yah. Cause people can't figure out metaphor. And everyone equates themselves to exactly what they see on tv. And the part of the Wendy's commercial where the hot sweedish chick broke the monitor was definitely ripped. And when someone makes a conceptual piece that breaks rules, I tell you, that just never works.

And Got Milk was so way effective BECAUSE it shows a frothy glass of milk in every ad. Wait a minute that's not right. Got Milk showed a lack of milk. A milk ad without milk? Holy $#@! That's it! Jeff, Rich, You are definitely out of the Advertising Hall of Fame now. We don't tolerate your rule breaking kind in this industry.

The piece is smart and humorous in a non kick-to-the-groin kind of way. I say it can date my daughter. That's how much I like it.

Posted by: Jad on June 8, 2007 6:11 PM

Yah. Cause people can't figure out metaphor. And everyone equates themselves to exactly what they see on tv. And the part of the Wendy's commercial where the hot sweedish chick broke the monitor was definitely ripped. And when someone makes a conceptual piece that breaks rules, I tell you, that just never works.

And Got Milk was so way effective BECAUSE it shows a frothy glass of milk in every ad. Wait a minute that's not right. Got Milk showed a lack of milk. A milk ad without milk? Holy $#@! That's it! Jeff, Rich, You are definitely out of the Advertising Hall of Fame now. We don't tolerate your rule breaking kind in this industry.

The piece is smart and humorous in a non kick-to-the-groin kind of way. I say it can date my daughter. That's how much I like it.

Posted by: Jac on June 8, 2007 6:11 PM

Yeah, right. This commercial was f***ing stupid. You've got to be one avant garde motherf***er to immediately get this metaphor. It has absolutely nothing to do with food, just some douche bag defying convention with his girl wig, and then, hey, HOT JUICY BURGER. Worst commercial ever.

Posted by: Gerald on June 18, 2007 2:50 AM

Where Can I Buy A Wendy's Girl Wig.
I NEEEEDDDD One!!

Posted by: maddi on September 7, 2007 11:40 PM