To dislike to John Lewis Christmas ad?

[Peashoots]

I get the message behind it but I hated it. Not at all Christmassy, hated the song, hated the aesthetic, just don’t know what they were thinking?

I agree with you. I have never been a huge fan of the "traditional" Christmas ads about spending more and sumptious banquets. They were neverrealistic and promoted over-indulgence and spending - as though ones Christmas is measured by how much you spent on it. For those who celebrate Christmas that is not the message of Christmas at all - it is about human kindness and a new beginning for people. I don't begrudge people, whether they believe that or not, having fun or spending money, but I have never felt the balance was right. Heaving tables laden with more food than an army can eat for a single family is encouraging some very poor messages about food, spending and waste. It's nice to see someone doing it different. Especially right now when so many people will be struggling to afford even the most basic of Christmas's, it is rather poor taste to continue to set the bar for a "proper Christmas" so high that nobody could meet it.

It's fantastic. Absolutely loved it, what an important cause to be raising awareness of.

I really liked it. I love what JL are doing for care leavers and looked after dc.

They are donating food/decorations/ presents to care leavers - imagine being 18 in a council flat on your own for christmas. It's lonely and shit.

Children in care are being prioritised at their grottos and I think don't have to pay to see father Christmas.

They aim to be the employee for care leavers. That's amazing. Care leavers are our most disadvantaged group in the UK. Anything like this is great.

I've worked with children in care and care leavers and personally I didn't like it. I don't like the portrayal of the sad, silent child on the doorstep. But it's good that they've used their powerful reach to highlight a good cause.

Personally my favourites so far are M&S and Tesco.

the Sainsbury's one with Alison Hammond is ok but why do they use Teenage dirtbag as the song?

agree with others that Asda's just feels a bit meh as it is just Elf in a supermarket.

I hate it too.

Foster care is such a horrifically sad situation for all involved, especially children who have likely been through trauma and have had their world turned upside down. Even those who have experienced abuse will normally be missing their parents and siblings desperately. But hey it’s ok, new Random Man has a skateboard which makes everything sooo much easier it’s like a sixth fine project with no imagination came up with this.

I also think when you look at statistics around Looked After children the fictional girl is far more likely to have a miserable time and poor outcomes, even when armed with her skateboard.

*sixth form project

I work with adults who have been through the care system and had very terrible things happen to them there. I liked it because it showed some hope and love rather than unrelenting bleakness for looked after children.

I like it. Still can't beat Edgar though.

It’s naff and quite possibly the last one they’ll do. I imagine John Lewis will be more or less gone in a year or two. Or at least consigned to an entirely online offering. Waitrose will remain of course.

Unfortunately one of my good friends told me it was new footage. I haven't seen it yet.

I said - Is it like Will Ferrell and everything? And she said - Yes! Yes! It's great!

Also Elf is one of her favourite films so she should really know

I like Jolly :-) I loved the dogs on the trampoline, don't know why but it brought a smile to my face!

I liked it

I hated it. Using foster children to sell things and make a profit is so wrong and manipulative.

I like the JL ad, it's different and endearing as well as highlighting an important issue (without dictating to us). The Asda one I feel is a bit cheap, it looks like a school kid made it - just bad cut and pasting of my favourite Christmas film into a badly scripted ad.

It's a bit wierd-why do men think supporting someone is all about THEM?

Yeah, how awful having to think about something as un-Christmassy as a pre-teen child with no family and a childless couple doing their level best to make her feel welcome. Rank, amiright?

Christ, that’s a reach.

I love it. I'm a bit cold hearted and I always find the soppy animal ones nauseating. But the JL one this year really brought a tear to my eye. It's feels genuine and no frills which I really like. It's such an important message and good on JL for using their platform to spread it. I felt a bit emotional at the disney one as well, I don't know what's happening to me this year 😂

I'm not a fan of the asda one, m&s one is crap as well and it is high time for aldi to move on from that annoying bloody carrot. I think any adverts showing tables piled with luxury food or mountains of expensive presents are in incredibly bad taste this year. I don't mind the tesco one so much because, even though there are tables filled with food, it acknowledges that times are tough this year. Plus there is a fair bit of spot on humour which I like.

I agree. It's awful. The musical choice is dreadful and whilst I appreciate the sentiment, it does paint a rather nauseatingly romantic notion of fostering, which is so disconnected from the reality.

but the message could have been portrayed with a christmas story surely?

What could be more Christmassy than welcoming someone with nowhere to go? And the general sharing of family Christmas. Although I didn't like the song.

I was thinking that.

Same.

No it's not.
"My DD dresses up as a princess so I dress up as one too" type stuff is all over SM.
This is the same.
She's a skateboarder and he's pretending to be one, making it about him.

JL have started a new programme where they employ care leavers, mentor them, provide them with practical help and support them in finding and keeping a place to live. It’s improving their life chances. This is absolutely JL at their very best.

That’s fab!
.I was on the fence with the advert - (lovely story though) but knowing that makes all the difference - well done JL

I love it! But find Asda's elf advert shallow.