John Lewis Christmas Ad

[takethattime]

Out today. It’s already on the my John Lewis App. I quite liked it. Nice and gentle.

It’s on during the adverts for Pride of Britain at 8.15.

@Skinnytailedsquirrel

Dire! John Lewis virtue signalling again.

Nothing christmassy and they've managed to include a gender-neutral alien and the ubiquitous black family.

Also ruined a good song.

John Lewis have lost the plot.

What's wrong with having a black family?

Blimey, I’m shocked at the fun sponges in this thread, typical Mumsnet

I think that the sentiment in the advert is great and I really don’t get the age difference, they both look like children to me, and of a similar age.

Ah well, I’ll stick to being annoyed that Dawn French’s character in the M&S advert REALLY annoys me!

@Claudethecat

Oh dear. All the racists are losing their shit on Twitter.

On MN too it seems.

@Skinnytailedsquirrel

Dire! John Lewis virtue signalling again.

Nothing christmassy and they've managed to include a gender-neutral alien and the ubiquitous black family.

Also ruined a good song.

John Lewis have lost the plot.

Just say you're racist and go

I found it boring and bland

@Pinkorchide

I found it boring and bland

What is your favourite JL advert?

Or maybe, advertisers trying too hard to demonstrate insincere diversity,

this propaganda is aimed directly at the Mumsnet middle, you are the target.

It is supposed to be boring and bland.

I’ve watched it again and this time the boy looked older and the girl younger. I think it was my first thing in the morning eyes causing the problem there.

And I love that there is a black family. Not a mixed family but black. You almost never see that, there is usually one white patent.

@LongBeanTime

Or maybe, advertisers trying too hard to demonstrate insincere diversity,

this propaganda is aimed directly at the Mumsnet middle, you are the target.

It is supposed to be boring and bland.

Mumsnet middle 😂

What is the Mumsnet middle?

Boring and bland.

Didn’t really “get” it as an advert. It didn’t make me feel Christmassy or make me want to buy anything. I didn’t want to “make memories” by buying a load of shite from JL to have a magical Christmas. Alien and regular human make friends is not an original or particularly interesting concept and it didn’t matter to the “plot” at all that it was Christmas apart from some funny business with electric lighting. If anything it made me a little sad that my own babies are now at an age when fooling about with pals in the woods and watching movies on your phone is preferable to a family Christmas.
My first watching I thought the girl was about 30 and the boy about 11. Second watching with hindsight I had her at about 19 and him at 12. It doesn’t really matter that they are the same age if they can’t play the same age. I thought the acting inc the little sister was great but the whole concept, as pp said, was like something knocked up by twats on the apprentice. Just what’s the point of it? Boy has crush on girl? So what?
I haven’t really liked a JL advert since the penguin one but one of my fave of all time is the non-Christmas one that starts off with a baby and goes all through her life all her stuff from her cot to her school dress to the bowls she uses when baking with her kids to the jug for the family bbq when she’s the grandma being from JL. That makes me want to shop there, this one makes me not want to shop at all. Absolutely not impressed with the pile of rubble they’ve dumped in Northumberland Street either.

@LongBeanTime

Boring and bland.

So you then, as someone here?

Explain middle to me. What makes me in the middle as opposed to being on the extremities?

Lidl? Aldi? Rich? Poor?

Hi SpicedGin,

my comment wasn't a personal attack.

The advert is designed to target the boring and bland, to get them talking about it, result.

I don't get a festive feel from it at all, didn't even raise a smile. I don't understand how it went from someone's idea, through however many stages of takes to get on to the TV without someone saying it was a bit dreary, or not relevant, the song is depressing etc.

The one with the boy waiting into give his gift to his parents was lovely, I hadn't seen it before and that made me smile.

That advert is seriously creepy! The combination of the very adult-looking alien and the breathy Together in Electric Dreams cover made me wish that kid would run away as fast as possible back to his family.

It's boring and not very appropriate for Christmas, the sports direct advert scored far above this in my eyes

I like this from Marks and Spencer in 2003. Shocking that its 18 years ago now

Liked the young lad but overall its seriously dreary. Another decent song ruined.

@LongBeanTime

Hi SpicedGin,

my comment wasn't a personal attack.

The advert is designed to target the boring and bland, to get them talking about it, result.

So you think you are boring and bland @LongBeanTime? It is a shame to have such a low opinion of yourself.

I know you are, you said you are but what am I?

I work in marketing, I always find it surprising how people lap this shit up.

I thought I'd take a look at the thread.

Crikey. Surprised things can take such a funny turn about a Christmas ad.

Anyway... I've had an idea. I hope think John Lewis are actually doing something totally different this year. I think they will let this ad run for a month the way it is. And then... come early December, the ad will change. The alien girl changes her mind and comes back with a gift for her friend, landing in his garden. The boys family will be amazed and welcome her into their home.

Does that work for anyone?

Another good song ruined !

@JumperandJacket now that DOES make me blub !!

Just watch the John Lewis penguin one oh my ! It's lovely

The penguin ad is really brilliant and should be taught in advertising school. It's completely engaging as a story (and a story within a story) and as a way to sell product without appearing to commercialise Christmas.