Movies sell us many things. Dreams. Versions of ourselves that we’d like to see. In the case of this summer’s “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” audiences across America were sold Victoria’s Secret, Tom Ford, Bud Light… the list goes on. Another thing that good (and bad) films often do is reflect the consumer identity through fictional depictions of advertising. Ben Stiller’s fake movie trailers for “Tropic Thunder” may have been exaggerations, but they were rooted in a truth we recognize only at the movies. Advertisements can seem even more artificial as seen through the lens of film – if we were just watching them at home, well, what’s so special about that? It’s an interesting topic to ponder, and for those who wish to dig into the archives of fake movie ads, a new supercut has landed online that showcases mock movie ads from films ranging from Tim Burton’s “Batman” to Adam Sandler’s “Happy Gilmore”… and a whole lot in between.
There’s a lot to dig into here, including the memorable ad for Maury’s Wigs that appears in Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” (right before a particularly violent scene, go figure) as well as some additions from goofball maestro Adam McKay, including Ricky Bobby’s unforgettable endorsement of Big Red chewing gum from “Talladega Nights.”
There’s also some stuff you may have forgotten about, including an ad for the fictional Booty Sweat energy drink from “Tropic Thunder,” as well as some stuff you wish you could unsee, like Al Pacino’s migraine-inducing jingle-and-dance routine for the “Dunk-A-Cino,” a fictional caffeinated beverage that serves as (no joke) a major plot catalyst in Adam Sandler’s notorious “Jack and Jill.”
We also have clips from some more artful pictures, including Bill Murray’s case of culturally confused whiskey promo from “Lost in Translation” and an excerpt from the terrifying daytime variety show that consumes Ellen Burstyn in Darren Aronofsky’s “Requiem for a Dream." Michael Bay even manages to plug yet ANOTHER high-end consumer item, with a clip from ‘Age of Extinction’ that sees a bored-looking Stanley Tucci brandishing a pair of Beats by Dre headpones.
All in all, it’s a great collection of little moments – if, for no other reason, it reflects how various different kinds of films can mirror our lives as we see them through the prism of a television and advertising. Also, if you don’t chew Big Red… well, just watch the video below. [Live For Films]