What If We Loaded It With Nudity?

Contract or no, I will not bow to any sponsor.

One of my favorite movies as a young jerk, was the 1992 flick Wayne's World. As an awkward twelve year old, I found just about every frame of it hysterical. But the one scene that absolutely killed me was the bit where Rob Lowe confronts them about giving the sponsor, Mr. Vanderhoff, some time on the show. Wayne and Garth are vehemently opposed to selling out. It's like people only do things because they get paid. And that's just really sad. This scene was a brilliantly executed jab at selling out, all the while completely selling out.

Twenty years later, Morgan Spurlock has basically extended this scene and made a feature-length documentary about product placement and advertising in movies. POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold is a light-hearted look into the gray area that exists between the art of film and the world of advertising. Spurlock's hook, is that he wants his movie about product placement to be financed through product placement. And while some of you out there might roll your eyes at that idea, I found it incredibly clever.

The film follows Spurlock around as he pitches his ludicrous idea to numerous companies. Major players, like Volkswagon, flat out reject his requests. But secondary brands (Hell, maybe even tertiary brands) like Ban deodorant are thrilled to be apart of something. Eventually, larger companies basically say  f--k it and sign on as well. It's an interesting journey and I can think of few people better to tag along with, than the amiable Spurlock. He realizes this is a gamble, and appears to not be entirely interested in selling his soul to advertisers, but is determined to see the project through. Even if he has to drink enough pomegranate juice to induce a massive, raging hard on.

You know, I've thought about adding ads to the blog - but that's not what we're about here at TDC. Oh look, here come the Yays and Boos, freshly back from Friendly's, where they enjoyed Fishamijigs and Fribbles. Rascals.

Why aren't more products geared to both horses and humans?

Yaaaaaaay!

• I think we have a similar merk personality, whatever the Hell that is. Mindful and Playful. Sounds good, right? Though, they forgot Unrelentingly Badass.
• Spurlock's genuine fascination with Mane 'n Tail is pretty funny. I can't believe that's a real thing.
• The moment where he absolutely freezes the Ban people. Ban is...? (awkward pause). Good question!
• His interviews with Ralph Nader are really interesting. Though I still can't believe he took off his shoe.
• Sao Paulo! They banned outdoor advertising (what they refer to as visual pollution). Fascinating stuff.
• OK Go contributes to the soundtrack and make an appearance in the doc. Break out the treadmills!
• And finally, my favorite part - the directors. Brett Ratner actually makes some sense (if there's a car in the shot, why can't it be a certain car?). Peter Berg swears a lot. J.J Abrams keeps it classy. But Tarantino owns everyone. You really missed the boat, Denny's. You could've been immortalized.

There are actual commercials during the film.

 Booooo!

• Iron Man had 14 promotional partners! I wonder what movie holds the record?
• My favorite exchange in the whole movie:   Q: Where can we go to see no advertising? A: To sleep.
• One of the scariest things I've ever seen? Neuromarketing. All together frightening.
• The idea that visibility equals credibility. How completely sad is this? And, how true.
• And finally, while writing this post, my son was passively watching some of Shrek 2. All of a sudden, he starts screeching Dad! Dad! I just saw Burger King and Old Navy! This is the moment when I realize I'm a terrible father. 

While this movie may have run a bit long in the second half, I still think it's very entertaining and thought-provoking. I enjoy that Spurlock puts himself right in the thick of whatever it is he's trying to shine some light on, even if, in a way, it's shameless self promotion.

By the way, I found this great new movie blog you should check out. Just click here.

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