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Original poster

LOVE the M&S ad

125 replies

Rainyday35 · 01/11/2023 22:17

I am so fed up of being told and shown how people should spend Christmas and how things should be done because that’s how they’ve always been…

Bah humbug I say! Sadly for some Christmas is all about routine and is a chore to please everyone!

Every year we get picture perfect images of what Christmas should look like - only for many it really doesn’t look like this for lots of reasons.

And as for the flag… I think people really are stretching if they think M&S were trying to make any political statement!

OP posts:
dayswithaY · 02/11/2023 13:25

I hated it, so mean spirited. I love everything about Christmas, and I love board games so I’d be furious if someone threw mine into a fish tank. Why would paper hats have to go in a wood chipper?

I hope Zawe Ashton got paid a ton of cash as she looks idiotic.

The only good thing about it is Sophie Ellis Bextor’s eyeliner.

InspectorGidget · 02/11/2023 13:56

I've done Xmas our own way since trying to host the whole family and accommodate everyone resulted in DH taking the dogs for a walk when lunch was eventually served.....

For us breakfast is the main meal and after that we chill out all day and people can come and go as they please and I have a buffet set up.

But this ad seems almost mocking us, by one of our most beloved institutions and it's given me the ick a bit!

I loved the reference to the homemade angel, as a self confessed victim or perfect ornament placement, I've had to give way to my child's creations and I've grown to love them! (The decs. Not the child!).

But overall this ad does not create that warm and fuzzy glow I want to feel all through Christmas.

We do go to church and I respect not everyone's Christmas revolves around the Jesus bit but the sneering at the cards and playing games just feels rather sad.

But yes. Hannah Waddingham looks the bomb.

Onesipmore · 02/11/2023 14:01

It's not being negative about traditions! It's showing that you don't need to be a slave to them, and in fact it reinforces you can do exactly what you want at Xmas without feeling pressured. You see so many people on here moaning about Elf on the shelf, the fag of sending Xmas cards, people falling out playing board games. I thought it was funny.

MangoAF · 02/11/2023 14:03

I liked it! Other than Tan France who I can’t stand. Have me a warm feeling when Hannah caught the elf, obviously she liked the Elf and was going to do that. Sophie liked doing the gingerbread house, Zawe liked charades, Tan liked the homemade decs - thought it was a nice message and the “violence” all very light hearted!
It’s made me feel quite in the mood!

Monkeybutt1 · 02/11/2023 15:28

I liked it too, I think some are taking it all a but seriously, it's a fun advert.

TheLonelyGoatTurd · 02/11/2023 15:49

I didn’t get the snowman bit at all. HW comes in looking like she’s expecting something great, or that she’s just arrived and someone will be waiting for her. She sees a partially completed cotton wool ball snowman (is that a tradition somewhere?) and decides to finish it. Why? Who for?

noblegiraffe · 02/11/2023 15:49

Have me a warm feeling when Hannah caught the elf, obviously she liked the Elf and was going to do that

oh I thought she was thinking about putting it in the wood chipper with the hats!

backtowinter · 02/11/2023 16:07

TheLonelyGoatTurd · 02/11/2023 15:49

I didn’t get the snowman bit at all. HW comes in looking like she’s expecting something great, or that she’s just arrived and someone will be waiting for her. She sees a partially completed cotton wool ball snowman (is that a tradition somewhere?) and decides to finish it. Why? Who for?

I thought it was showing her coming home knackered and seeing an unfinished project - maybe for school the next day. I think a lot of us have been there

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 02/11/2023 16:11

ssd · 01/11/2023 23:20

I thought it was crap. Was surprised it was marks.

Same.

It didn't give me the warm, fuzzy, Christmas feeling at all.

BethDuttonsTwin · 02/11/2023 16:12

I thought it was miserable and try hard, but makes no difference, I mean, I'm still going to get all my buffet food, Buck's Fizz and Turkey trimmings from M&S so it's made no impact on me at all really.

As a side note, I live near Sophie Ellis Bextor and she is completely stunning at all times, even when make up free. herding her kids on the school run while wearing joggers and big winter jackets. Probably the most naturally beautiful woman I have ever seen in RL.

BethDuttonsTwin · 02/11/2023 16:13

oh I thought she was thinking about putting it in the wood chipper with the hats!

She was but it took two watches for me to see that. I thought she liked it and was going to keep it the first time too.

WhateverMate · 02/11/2023 16:14

It's a shit ad.

The just want people to give up traditional cooking and baking really, in favour of buying their massively overpriced food.

EasternStandard · 02/11/2023 16:14

Just watched. Surprised pp loved it

It was a bit of a waste

Ibizabar · 02/11/2023 16:18

I liked it. Don't worry though I'm sure the John Lewis Ad will be schmaltzy enough complete with breathy singing to make up for it.

Malarandras · 02/11/2023 16:18

For me it is bizarre how the word ‘Christmas’ does not appear. Didn’t seem to showcase anything for people to actually buy at M and S either, which is surely the point of an M and S advert?

Ibizabar · 02/11/2023 16:19

noblegiraffe · 02/11/2023 15:49

Have me a warm feeling when Hannah caught the elf, obviously she liked the Elf and was going to do that

oh I thought she was thinking about putting it in the wood chipper with the hats!

She should have

ColleenDonaghy · 02/11/2023 16:22

I love HW contemplating shredding the bloody elf.

It's nice to see an ad that's about reducing the pressures and expectations rather than increasing them (especially for women who tend to feel the most of this kind of pressure).

Syndulla · 02/11/2023 16:24

The advert was a bit of a miss. I get the point, I just thought it was poorly executed.

The flag furore would be hilarious if it wasn't taken so seriously. It was an image of red, green, and silver party hats burning on a fireplace. Nothing to do with the Palestinian flag. You don't see Italy, Hungary, and Iran chiming in claiming offence do you? Just a bunch of keyboard warriors trying to make themselves seem important. Can't believe M&S pulled it and pandered to them!

Mochudubh · 02/11/2023 16:31

is this the one with the breathy, die-away version of Meatloaf's "I would do anything for love..."? I hit the mute button and barely looked but I think I saw HW putting on lippie so I assume it's that one.

I'm so sick of these weedy versions of rock classics.

Bluevelvetsofa · 02/11/2023 16:33

Dreadful advert, not even redeemed by Sophie Ellis Bextor.

Mochudubh · 02/11/2023 16:33

I'm sure M&S have been planning the ad for month or years even. They've not put it together in the last 3 weeks.

EasternStandard · 02/11/2023 16:35

The people in it look good.

I don’t mind a bit of fluff over that ad

ploob · 02/11/2023 16:47

It was better than the horse video.

BeetleDeuce · 02/11/2023 16:51

I thought it was rather jolly. I LOVE some of the M&S outfits this year and thought it showed them off well.

But mainly I love Hannah W - omg she’s an absolute ICON.

43ontherocksporfavor · 02/11/2023 16:52

Saw the ad last night and while it’s way too early I agree it’s really clever. The creator must’ve been reading Mumsnet as they’ve really caught the zeitgeist.Refreshing that it’s not flogging anything directly but makes the viewer see M&S as on their side so more likely to shop.Smart.

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