Maybe I’m jaded because it’s both raining and hot in New York this morning, but Hefty’s Foam Plates commercial didn’t inspire me to even think of giggling. Okay fine, maybe I smiled when Gary the Knight laughs like a maniac at Amar, the stained centaur at the renaissance fair. But all in all, this ad seems disjointed and flat.
Those who loved Napoleon Dynamite should get a kick out of it, though, since the spot was directed by Jared Hess, the man behind that movie’s dry humor and who previously gave us “Rager” and other adverts for Hefty. If you’re stoked on hearing the word “quesadilla” mispronounced and watching two lovebirds hit a tetherball back and forth, you might also like Hefty’s sad centaur and his elfish admirer. But if you found Napoleon Dynamite slow and boring, prepare to feel completely disenchanted by this renaissance fair.
Update: We’ve been told by those in the know that the ad is more a dig at the Society for Creative Anachronism than the Renaissance Fair community.
Credits after the jump.
CLIENT: Reynolds Consumer Products
CAMPAIGN TITLE: Get Hefty Strong
EXECUTION TITLE: Fair
AGENCY: Euro RSCG Chicago
CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER: Jason Peterson
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Bill Rogers
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR: Jason Tisser
SENIOR COPYWRITER: Regan Kline
PRODUCER: Joe Tipre
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Moxie Pictures; Los Angeles, CA
DIRECTOR: Jared Hess
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Robert Fernandez, Lizzie Schwartz
HEAD OF PRODUCTION: Roger Zorovich
PRODUCER: Laura Heflin
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Munn Powell
EDITORIAL COMPANY: Feed the Walrus; New York, NY
EDITOR: Adam Jenkins
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Desiree Cobb
SOUND DESIGN: Made; Chicago, IL
SOUND DESIGNER: Todd Bernstein
VISUAL EFFECTS COMPANY: Feed the Walrus, New York, NY
VISUAL EFFECTS EDITOR: Greg Huber
MANAGING DIRECTOR: Suzanne Lord Rossi
ACCOUNT DIRECTOR: Amanda Callahan
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Julie Wisniewski
BUSINESS AFFAIRS: Bonnie Hamilton
PLANNER: Kim Angel, Jessica Barrera
MEDIA AGENCY: MPG
MEDIA DIRECTOR: Vanessa Watts