AIBU to be very excited about the release of the John Lewis Christmas advert tomorrow?

[trulybadlydeeply]

Yes, I know I am really, but this is about as exciting as my life gets at the moment . Well, that, and the fact that I treated myself to a new ironing board yesterday...

I just assume A LOT Each. i may be wrong, but can't imagine Noel Gallagher gifting it to them.

I think as a Christmas advert it's rather depressing. I'd rather have seen a homely Christmassy one with maybe Grandpa in a cosy corner near the fire or Christmas tree etc, with a glass of sherry in hand and receiving a pressie from a grandchild. This thing was way too complicated IMHO.
What's wrong with simple? The slight twist could have been including the older generation as many families do anyway. That would surely have done more good too - encouraging this as the nice thing to do?

It's building on Age UK's campaign: www.ageuk.org.uk/no-one/

The point is that you may as well live on the moon - being so far away and detached from people / your family / community networks etc. if you're feeling lonely and isolated.

There are so many older people out there who don't have families to spend Xmas Day with and are often to proud to admit that they're feeling so sad plus don't want to be a burden.

Breaks my heart.

I agree Juggling. I think they went too outlandish and that's why I don't find it particularly moving. Would have worked better with a lonely neighbour.

But I'm not sure it really works as an advert for JL sophied - isn't it a bit like send a pressie and it will all be OK? Whereas to me it's really the relationships that count and pressies should only ever be a part of that ?

But the end of the ad shows the man on the moon being able to see everyone having a good time without him that he was previously unaware of, making him even more lonely and isolated.

YY to lonely neighbour being invited round or something.

It would have made more sense and conveyed the message better if it had featured a realistic situation with a neighbour rather than an ambiguous character on the moon.

However ... it would not have given JL the merchandising and marketing opportunities that the moon story does. They are promoting telescopes, all manner of items featuring the man on the moon, plus you can go to their stores and sit on the man on the moon's bench and have your photo taken etc.

The 2 elements of a good Christmas campaign seem to be merchandise tie-ins and promoting a charity.

I hope they're promoting binoculars too - much more useful, lots more people should have a pair, especially for bird-watching whilst out and about. Maybe keep a pair in the glove compartment?

juggling that was such a funny post. Made me thinking of mumsnetters everywhere taking up bird watching.

Well it is hard to think of something for some people isn't it Lostcat?
I think JL could be on to something if they include a nice handy pair of bino's in their XMas marketing

They would do just as well to raise awareness of elderly people who are left for weeks...sometimes months without heating because of landlords dragging their feet over fixing it.

So not only are they left alone. They are left to freeze as well.