People have gotten used to product placements over the years, but some are just too much. They’re too intrusive, too overt, and too frequent. The five featured here are some of the worst and sure to make you cringe at the thought of “artistic integrity.” By the way, be sure to visit sister site Game With A Brain.
Mac and Me
It may be the grand champion of product placements. The entire film is basically a product placement starting with the title, a reference to McDonald’s Big Macs. Yes, between the numerous plugs for Coca-Cola, Sears, Skittles, etc. you even get a guest appearance by Ronald McDonald himself. Still, the most gratuitous product pitch comes in the trailer itself, with Ronald McDonald pitching the movie. Fine, rip off E.T. if you must, but even rip-offs normally show more class than this.
Smallville
It’s bad enough that the producers of Smallville took a decent show in its first two seasons and turned it into one of television’s biggest embarrassments, but did they really have to become complete sellouts at the same time? Sure, use a real contacts box instead of some generic brand. Do not focus on the contacts box for several seconds with the brand name showing. Definitely do not drop the company’s slogan into the character dialogue. What happened to Chloe? Is this the future of America’s young journalists?
Runaway Bride
Julia Roberts is a very charming actress. When she eventually starred in America’s Sweethearts it seemed almost rubbing it in the face of other actresses. Still, she perhaps rode her charm a bit too much into a series of forgettable romantic comedies (Sweethearts included). One of the more forgettable ones was Runaway Bride, which featured one of the more memorably bad product placements. Yes, Hector Elizondo’s punch line is smirk inducing, but at the expense of his very soul.
Spider-Man
What does every boy superhero need? Why, a never-ending supply of Dr. Pepper, or course! Note how Peter Parker places the Dr. Pepper can with logo conveniently in view when all he really needs it as is a prop. Note the long focus on the Cingular logo while the Green Goblin attacks. Note the completely out of place Marcy Gray concert cameo. Note how a decent action film can be made to feel dirty with just a few quick cash-ins.
Men In Black II
Take two good actors (Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith) and one good movie (the original Men In Black) and toss them into a blender with a half-baked sequel idea. What do you get? Wait, don’t forget the heavy-handed product placement! There, now you have Men In Black II. From Mountain Dew to Victoria’s Secret, this sequel felt no shame in selling out while protecting earth from the scum of the universe. By the way, people should be happy there was no Men In Black III or the two leads might have looked like NASCAR drivers with logos replacing their trademark black suits.
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By Workpost on May 8, 2008 | Reply
Since when you can you look up a “Deneuralyzer” on Ebay ? That one gave me a good laugh..
And is that browser IE for mac ?
By OuryLN on May 8, 2008 | Reply
and who could forget the Smallville episode that suggested that Stride gum could give you superpowers?
By Sour on May 8, 2008 | Reply
Don’t forget iRobot, where to do the product placements required Will Smith to be a collector of historic items, like sneakers and a cd-player.