Christmas Advert Review 2018

I can't believe it's already December! It's the time of year where I love curling up on the sofa watching I'm A Celeb, with the Christmas adverts playing in-between. 

Here are what I think of 10 Christmas adverts on the tele this year:

Aldi – Kevin the Carrot

I always loved this advert since the character was created in 2016. This year there was two different adverts involving Kevin; one was a remake of the traditional Coca Cola advert with the truck which Kevin is driving and crashes, in a comical kind of way. The other and longer advert this year involved Kevin and his family and the evil Parsnip where there was a small battle to save his family on a Christmas dinner table. I love that every year there is a new story that is created involving Kevin and the Christmas dinner table. Having a character such as Kevin for Aldi has been so successful; they have sold ‘Kevin the Carrot’ cuddly toys and they use the character each year to decorate the stores. As soon as you see Kevin the Carrot you think ‘Aldi’ and to me, this shows a successful Christmas advert.

Boots – #GiftsThatGetThem

This advert has stood out to me this year, more than any other Boots advert at any previous Christmas. I guess that could be because I am a daughter and related to the mother-daughter relationship at times. I love that they have created their own lyrics to ‘She’s the one’ by Robbie Williams, as now if anyone thinks of or hears this song, they will instantly remember the Boots advert and possibly even sing the wrong lyrics! I love the message behind the advert too, it is touching and relatable as everyone watching knows what it’s like to be nagged by your parents no matter how old you are, but you always love your Mum/Dad.

McDonalds – Are you #ReindeerReady?

This is one of, if not my favourite Christmas advert of 2018. It instantly gave me the Christmas feels! I love how it will attract kids to getting carrots in to feed the Reindeer and it also gives a good impression to the public of McDonalds and their fruit and veg bags. It might encourage kids to eat healthier and also shows McDonalds being open 24 hours a day, giving further good publicity. This is the most Christmassy advert I have seen this year, I love the idea and the intent and the story, it’s a real feel good advert.

John Lewis – Elton John

I can’t decide how to start on the John Lewis advert. In my house, the premier of this advert is the start of the Christmas season, but I’m not too sure it made me feel very Christmassy this year, similar to last year. It is the story of Elton John’s life but going backwards, and ends on him opening his Christmas present as a child and it being his very first piano. I love the idea and the concept, but I think it would be just as affective if it wasn’t Elton John. I also don’t feel like it’s Christmas after I watch it, there is only Christmas trees in the beginning and end of the advert, which is slightly disappointing. Other adverts were definitely more favourable than this one this year.

Coca Cola – the traditional truck and Rak-Su

I’m not going to lie; I always do a little excited squeal every time I hear the music that goes with the Christmas Coca Cola advert. This is officially the most Christmassy advert every single year no matter what. As soon as I hear those words ‘Holidays are coming’, I get so excited for the season. This year, Rak-Su have partnered and been featured in the Coca Cola advert too, singing their own version of the song usually played on the advert. I can’t decide if I like it or not; only because X Factor isn’t as popular as it used to be, and also because I always love things to be traditional, and I always want the Coca Cola advert to stay traditional.

M&S – Discover your M&S Christmas favourites

I’m quite liking this advert; it has followed a different vibe to all the others. It is more casual, with lots of different types of people talking about what Christmas foods they love from M&S. I love the setting of the interviews from the different people as its all cold and dark with lights and decorations, and it’s a really good way of reflecting what the public want to hear. It’s a lot chattier and representative of the public which is what I like and it does make me want to do some Christmas food shopping!

Sainsburys – the big night

First, just watch the plug jump into the socket (if you know, you know) it is HILARIOUS! I love this advert. It is a Christmas play by a group of school children singing a Christmas song, and ends with the phrase ‘We give all we’ve got for the ones we love’. This is such a feel good advert, showing love between kids and parents watching, and is such a good production. I love the ending of the advert with the slogan, and I also love the comedy aspect. It slightly reminds me of the Christmas film ‘The Nativity’ which is such a good and memorable idea.

Lidl – make Christmas a lidl special

The Lidl advert brings a little comedy to Christmas this year with an ice rink on a cul-de-sac where there is a Christmas party. The Christmas party has so much Christmas food out on the table with bottles of different drinks, and through the window there is a young girl on the ice rink. There is then a car that is trying to pull up at the party but is spinning and can’t stop on the ice. The advert isn’t too long, and the slogan is memorable which I like. The focus isn’t entirely on the products from Lidl too; it’s subtle but is still effective.

Iceland – Orangutan 

This advert has impacted me and the way I will shop as well as the rest of the country. Even though this has been banned by the government from being shown on television for political reasons, this advert has circulated Twitter and Facebook, creating even more of an impact on the public. It is a cartoon advert with a rhyming commentary explaining how the rainforests are being destroyed for palm oil resulting in the death of many Orangutans. It then states that Iceland will now not produce or sell products containing palm oil. This was very hard hitting, but I think it needed to be (this could be one of the reasons it was banned from the tele). Whether this advert was made with a plan of being banned or not, it has been very successful.

Asda – bring Christmas home

I think this is the first Christmas advert I saw on the TV this year. I love the idea and the song played during the advert; the snow and Santa makes the advert extra Christmassy. Santa launches a cannon ball of ‘Christmas’ into the air, so people run down a snowy hill with products ‘everything Christmas’ from Asda, to take home to a little girl at her house. I love how it has the family sort of feel, and the feeling of bringing everyone together for the season. It also shows so so many different products Asda provides for the Christmas season; they have really found a way to show as many as possible!

Thanks for reading! Keep smiling and have a great day! Liv xxx