Here in the UK, as the run up to Christmas begins, all our major stores release their advertising campaigns to entice us to shop with them.
Most years, John Lewis Retail wins, due to a combination of using a great song and a message about the meaning of Christmas. They seemed to be winning with this year’s effort too!. It’s message was about looking after the lonely this Christmas and you can watch it here if you have not seen it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuz2ILq4UeA
However, all that changed when Sainsburys brought the much loved Mog the cat, from the Judith Kerr Children’s books out for their advert. With Emma Thompson narrating and CGI from the team behind the Paddington bear film, this was clearly our winner and you can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuRn2S7iPNU
Its success was instant, with a million views in under 24 hours! Now Metro have reported that Mog could return for a movie http://metro.co.uk/2015/11/12/sainsburys-christmas-advert-star-mog-the-cat-for-blockbuster-movie-5497797/?ito=twitter
This at present is speculation but the social media frenzy around it could make this happen. Cats have appeared on movies before, from Jones, beloved cat of Ellen Ripley in Alien to the Bill Murray voiced lazy cat, the iconic Garfield. However, until now dogs have proved to be more popular at the box office!
We believe that if the forthcoming movie adaptation of James Bowen novel A Street Cat named Bob, the true story of how a cat saved his life is a box office hit, then Mog will surely follow.
Another indicator will be how the book and soft toy plush that Sainsburys have released, to coincide with the advert sell. We hope lots, as profits are going to Save the Children
http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/mogs-christmas-calamity
Mog certainly does have a good chance, as we all fell so much for the CGI Puss in Boots in Shrek 2 that he got his own film so there is no reason to believe it won’t happen.
Our BMAF resident cat Hooch certainly would be interested to see more of Mog, even if it was to be a series of adverts from Sainsburys. Of course, even though we are normally barking mad about films, we are happy to watch a film about a cat, should it be as purrfect as this advert!
Is this your favourite Christmas advert? Would you love to see Mog make a movie, or would you prefer John Lewis made one with last years, Monty the Penguin for example? We would love to hear from you here at Barking Mad About Films
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