Dunkin' Donuts "Launch"

For big-ticket items — the stuff that’s tricky to afford in the best of times — upbeat commercials can seem gratingly Pollyannaish these days. But for small things — a cup of coffee, say — an advertiser has an opportunity to cheer consumers up without sounding oblivious and/or delusional in the process. A new spot for Dunkin’ Donuts (via Hill, Holliday, Boston) capably fills that niche as it shows people faced with daunting but doable tasks, like shoveling out a blizzard-covered driveway or assembling a backyard swing set.