The inspiration for CP+B’s new back-to-school ad is pretty clear: the 1998 film Rushmore by Wes Anderson (who is no stranger to advertising), which happens to be my personal favorite from the director.
Like Jason Schwartzman’s Max Fischer character in that film, the protagonist of the 30-second “Part Time Everythingers” tackles just about every extracurricular activity imaginable, from a school play to fencing (both clear nods to Rushmore). The comparison is made even more obvious by the use of The Creation’s classic 1967 song “Making Time,” also used in the opening credits of the film (as well as its trailer).
When asked by AdFreak if the spot was a literal homage to Rushmore, a BestBuy rep seemingly side-stepped the question, saying, “Any time you’re compared to an Academy Award-nominated director, that’s a good thing. And to be honest, better to channel Wes Anderson than Wes Craven.”
While it may lack originality, the choice of homage makes perfect sense in context and, more importantly, makes for a very watchable spot. Stick around for a more complete look at Max Fischer’s extracurricular activities (set, of course, to “Making Time”) after the jump.