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Ad of the Day

Freestyle Music Park "Time Machine"

Brand: Freestyle Music Park
Agency: The Brandon Agency
Review Date: July 27, 2009

One of advertising's stock figures -- the weak-kneed dad -- puts in an appearance in a campaign by The Brandon Agency for Freestyle Music Park, an amusement park in Myrtle Beach, S.C. In the spot shown here, the rest of the family comes off the park's Time Machine rollercoaster in a triumphant mood. As mom and kids are smiling, high-fiving and fist-bumping, though, the woozy father keels over in a dead faint. Is this a cliche? Yes, it is. But, as I can testify from personal experience in taking a kid on other amusement-park rides, it's one of those cliches that got to be a cliche because there's a lot of truth in it. If the spot is intended to make viewers feel a day at Freestyle Music Park will be unlike a day at any other amusement park, the vignette feels too familiar to convey that idea. But it will tend to make viewers feel that a day at Freestyle will be similar to days they've enjoyed at other amusement parks -- which, on the whole, is probably a more useful message, even if one that's unlikely to win awards for originality. --Mark Dolliver

View Credits

Overall rating:

(3.35

) Good

60 Comments

1. John comments:

August 31, 2009

How does Brandon Advertising do it! One dazzling creative home run after another. This is the kind of work that you would expect out of a major New York agency. Who would believe it was created in Myrtle Beach and for less than half the price of most other agencies?
2. chris comments:

August 31, 2009

This commercial still cracks me up and I heard it was very successful, too! I wouldn't be surprised if this agency picks up a lot of awards and business because of this fantastic creative campaign!
3. JC comments:

August 27, 2009

Wow, an agency trolling their own comment section. How pathetic.
4. Edu comments:

August 14, 2009

C'mon. Stop saying stupid things about your own ad. It is BAD and that's all. Nothing wrong with it. We all have done this kind of things anytime. Just don't pretend you think this is a good ad. Is bad for your agency because we all think this is the best you can do.
5. Jessie comments:

August 09, 2009

Anyone who doesn't love this campaign doesn't know GREAT advertising!
6. Tom comments:

August 09, 2009

I laughed by butt off! Amazing creative work! A Clio for sure!
7. Erin comments:

August 09, 2009

Who would think such great creative could come out of Myrtle Beach! Wow!
8. Sherry comments:

August 09, 2009

Such a smart and creative campaign! The best I've ever seen! I would hire this agency in an heartbeat!
9. Floy comments:

August 09, 2009

Better than anything coming out of Crispin! Outstanding creative!
10. Scott comments:

August 09, 2009

Best work I've ever seen! An Addy winner for sure!
11. Jim comments:

August 04, 2009

Creative matches product perfectly especially for the target and market.
12. RIMBO comments:

August 04, 2009

Seems that the spot matches the product. Silly and kid friendly. If I am looking for great art, I will go to the Prado.
13. JoJo comments:

August 04, 2009

Funny ad, great place to take the family
14. Jenn comments:

August 04, 2009

Pretty funny and its getting a good response on youtube. Good job!
15. Sarah comments:

August 04, 2009

LOL!!! Does anyone else think the "Dad" looks like Chandler from Friends?? I really do like the shots of the ride!
16. Poppy comments:

August 04, 2009

That's funny yo. Anytime anyone flips their lid, you have to laugh. Whether it's a cliche or not.
17. warrens4 comments:

August 04, 2009

I've been to the park and it is as much fun as it looks!
18. Poppy comments:

August 04, 2009

That's funny yo. Anytime anyone flips their lid, you have to laugh. Whether it's a cliche or not.
19. Poppy comments:

August 04, 2009

That's funny yo. Anytime anyone flips their lid, you have to laugh. Whether it's a cliche or not.
20. MktGrad comments:

August 04, 2009

This was a great ad. It really sold the product well and with humor, which is always a bonus. Great job to The BRandon Agency!
21. Ella comments:

August 04, 2009

I think it's pretty funny!
22. Tiger comments:

August 04, 2009

A hole in one!!
23. Devine comments:

August 04, 2009

An all-star spot!
24. Faust comments:

August 04, 2009

A national championship spot!
25. Babe comments:

August 04, 2009

This spot is a "five-bagger" in my book!
26. Bertelli comments:

August 04, 2009

If there was a Heismann Trophy awarded for the top TV spot, we'd have a winner here!
27. Montana comments:

August 04, 2009

Kudos to Adweek for nominating an ad that's funny but effective.
28. Rocket comments:

August 04, 2009

Get's the job done!! It doesn't need to be a work of art to be effective
29. Gipper comments:

August 04, 2009

This ad scored a touchdown in my book!
30. Bertelli comments:

August 04, 2009

LOL!!!!!
31. Lujak comments:

August 04, 2009

Almost 15,00 views on Youtube - not bad!
32. Theismann comments:

August 04, 2009

The spot has carved out a home on YouTube
33. Hanratty comments:

August 04, 2009

Touchee for hard driving in your face fun!
34. The 4 Horsemen comments:

August 04, 2009

I saw the PR coverage on the guy with the toupee who challenged the spot. Freestyle Music Park accomplished its mission in putting its name on the map.
35. Moose comments:

August 04, 2009

I roared!! A fun spot that's about fun.
36. Jess comments:

August 04, 2009

When you consider the market the spot is targeting - lower/middle income families with children - it get's the job done.
37. Leahy comments:

August 04, 2009

I noticed this agency ran a second spot with the same parents - different kids. Just as funny as Dad reminds me of Clark Griswald from National Lampoon's Vacation.
38. Charlie comments:

August 04, 2009

I saw on the NBC's Today Show website where a local hair replacement proprieter challenged the park on this commercial by riding the coaster to show everyone his hair stayed on. What great PR residual for the park.
39. Lou comments:

August 04, 2009

I'm ready to visit Freestyle Music Park!
40. Ara comments:

August 04, 2009

An effective slapstick way of delivering a message that conveys fun.
41. Rockne comments:

August 04, 2009

Got the job done! Caught my attention and more importantly, my two tweens. They laughed and told me they'd like to visit
42. Mike comments:

July 29, 2009

After seeing this, I am feeling much better about my agency's work.
43. Tom comments:

July 28, 2009

Unfortunately, Adweek doesn't allow you to rate it no stars. So I gave it a generous one star. But it is creative dreck and a terrible ad. Thankfully, it's not running in the Northeast.
44. One comments:

July 28, 2009

One of the worst local commercials to date.
45. Lisa comments:

July 28, 2009

Perhaps the ad agency made the work this dreadful on purpose so we would all talk about it and talk about them? It wouldn't be my strategy, but I am trying to be positive. lol
46. Eric comments:

July 28, 2009

To quote Bill Bernbach, "If your advertising goes unnoticed, everything else is academic." Unfortunately, the only thing memorable about this advertising is how dreadful it is.
47. Bob comments:

July 28, 2009

This is terrible work, but please don't judge Carolina agencies but this crap. There is some outstanding work that comes from South Carolina and North Carolina agencies.
48. Ashleigh comments:

July 28, 2009

Does this make anyone want to visit Freestyle Music Park? Does this make anyone want to work at their ad agency? Enough said.
49. Jim comments:

July 28, 2009

I would laugh if this work wasn't so bloody awful. I can't believe the ad agency sent out PR releases out on it. Can you imagine the work that aren't proud of ? At least we know where the elephant graveyard for advertising is located.
50. corny comments:

July 28, 2009

Creative talent rarely lands at agencies like this, so this terribly corny spot does not come as a surprise.