A dwarf, a fat man and a chainsaw prompt complaints to ad watchdog
A TV ad that involves a dwarf, a fat man and a chainsaw has led to complaints to the Ad Standards Bureau.
The TV spot, “Save Yourself the Risk” for Compare Travel Insurance, was created by Sydney agency Blow. It first ran in cinemas in December before moving to channels Ten and Eleven on Christmas Day. It sees a traveller named Eugene bullied by ‘risk’, personified by a fat man. When Eugene finds the right insurance, he cuts the risk down with a chainsaw, at which point a dwarf personifies a smaller level of risk.
Jeff Purser, creative director at Blow, said the client is assessing the reaction to the ad before deciding to buy time on other networks. The ad ran before comedy Tower Heist at the cinemas. Purser said: “It got bigger laughs than the movie.”
Natalie Ball, business development manager, said: “We’ve had a lot of positive responses, particularly from the cinema campaign and posts on twitter.”
“It would be a shame if it was banned,” said Ball. “It’s getting people to talk about the ad and making an impact, to cut through the usual travel ads of palm trees and holiday scenes.”
Asked if the use of a dwarf and an obese man for comedic purposes was exploitation, Ball said: “I don’t think it is, it’s a visual image of cutting your risk down to size by taking out insurance.”
The campaign will be active for four weeks.
The character Eugene has been used by Blow in alternative versions and online web videos.
It’s a funny, cut through ad that talks to its audience. I’d say it’s good work.
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I saw it for the 1st time whilst preparing to watch Sherlock Holmes the other night and must say it had me and the rest of the crowd in stitches. Great advert.
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FAIL. Its just not funny.
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Stupid ad which makes the insurance company look cheap and nasty.
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I think this is an excellent ad. I will be very disappointed to see this banned.
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Agree with Jacinta & JD. I don’t find it funny and would never buy insurance from them because it looks cheap!
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This ad came on at the cinema before the movie “The Adventures of Tin Tin”
There were Kids everywhere, inapppropriate ad buying and creative that is in bad taste and not funny at all
GET IT OFF
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Who cares if you think it’s funny or not? If the client wants to run it, run it!
I like it, but even if I didn’t, so what?
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Relevant? Yes.
Impact? Yes.
Original? Yes
Seems like we have a winner….and we are all talking about it.
Probably shouldn’t have been shown prior to Tin Tin. That’s the media company’s fault. Numbskulls.
Detractors – write something better….or leave well enough alone.
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If providing a paying TV gig for a fat bloke and dwarf is a bad thing then so be it. Those roles in Game of Thrones are filled. I reckon it’s the first ad I’ve laughed out loud to in six months. Keep ’em coming.
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I have to say anyone who doesn’t find this advert funny must be rather fat or a dwarf.
No worse than Ricky Gervais at the golden globes! Get over yourselves people
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We are laughing at it not with it. I will remember the ad (cut through) but not the insurance company (oops. no sale = fail). Silly client.
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Gotta say, it made me cringe and giggle – and I wouldn’t say I’m skinny. Lighten up people!
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It advertises something?
I find the idea of an ad that suggests using a chainsaw on a person mildly inappropriate, though the ‘chainsaw diet’ concept appears to do wonders for one’s size.
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It is in very poor taste, it should be removed.
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Anything with a midget on, or in it, is hilarious!
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This should be blamed for crap reasons. Woeful direction, my teenage son could do a better job editing on iMovie.
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Nothing like watching a bunch of advertising nobodies, astride their high-horses, thinking they’re shaping society by attacking the only original thing I’ve seen on television in ages.
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3 negative comments, all women.
15 positive comments, mostly men.
Hmmm.
Personally i liked it- made me laugh. But i do agree that I have no idea who the advert is for- but on the other hand, if I was going on holiday this would be a the front of my mind, and might make me want to look into it……
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I organise the travel insurance, car insurance and health insurance in my household. I thought this ad was tasteless. Also, midgets aren’t funny. Can we not think outside the stereotypes?
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I think the iSelect ads are far better balanced with their tone and satire… this ad seems to go for a similar style. The “big man” representing “big travel risk” is a lame idea that should have been scrapped early in the creative process. Someone in the creative team couldn’t let go of this “hilarious idea”… the message in this ad is so unclear: “Cut your travel risk in half”. What crap.
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