Saturday, December 01, 2007

Uniqlo-clad Flumps


In these days where anything and everything is focus grouped to death before the supposedly dumb general public get the chance to see it, removing any ounce of originality and personal passion, it's brilliant when the occasional crazy idea gets through. Something that offers a terrifying glimpse into the minds of a disturbed few "creative" types that makes no sense to anyone but themselves.

The best example of this at the moment is the current crop of Curry's adverts. Thankfully now de-Linda-Barker-ed, we're now presented with three Uniqlo-clad Flumps who look like they've shown up a little too late to appear as extras in a new series of Coupling. Following the laws set by The Real Hustle - that for every two geeks you put on the telly, you have to add a glamorous blond - they just wander around talking about random electrical items, convinced everything they do is for the good humankind, as though they wouldn't try to sell you a dubious extended guarantee in a heartbeat. Quite who these people are, why they appear to live on a semi-CGI observation deck and what there role is in the company is left totally up to the viewers' imagination.

With Christmas approaching, things have got far more bizarre with a sinister Santa-type figure joining the posse, struggling to keep his reindeer in the stock room and making disturbing comments about mince pies. There is just no explanation for any of this, which is why it somehow works. The whole campaign is so childishly aimless that the Currys brand seems remarkably less cartel-ish and buying from them appears less immoral. Perhaps not that's not what the adverts set out to achieve, but inanity on TV should always be celebrated...

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