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Vote Conservative, Actually
In what may be the Conservative’s last ad filmed before the election, BoJo parodies the carol singers scene from Love Actually to good effect. This just premiered a couple of hours ago on the UK and is already hugely popular. “Brilliant,” as my countrymen like to say. The Conservatives are polling at about 43%, Labor at 33%, and then the also-rans. It’s important that Boris get a majority of seats in order to forestall a “hung” Parliament or a bunch of jockeying to form a coalition. Wonder if this ad is good for a couple of points?
I did notice, at least in my version of YouTube, that the next video is of MP Gisela Stuart urging her voters to vote for the Conservative candidate. That’s interesting, because Ms. Stuart was a Labor MP for Edgbaston in Birmingham until she retired in 2017. She was very well thought of while she served as MP, and secured quite a few Conservative cross-over votes, Auntie Pat’s among them.
Published in Elections
What a refreshing change from the campaign commercials here!
I have nothing insightful to say.
Isn’t that where the universe’s worst poetry came from?
What no “Jump”? No Pointer Sisters?
I expect to see Boris dancing in No. 10. Perhaps after the election and he gets the 9 more seats he’s seeking. Then he’ll be more in a celebratory mood.
Yes, that was my first thought when my sister sent me the ad. She’s just seen it, and when I heard it was a take-off on Love Actually, I envisioned Boris shimmying down the stairs. (Scary visual . . . )
Is the scene that’s parodied anywhere on YouTube? (I haven’t the foggiest idea what that’s about.)
Never mind. I think I found it.
Charming
She,
How gentle smart and British. Of course, you know that I’m the curator of the Cecil B. DeMille institute of bombastic cinema, acting, and political advertising. If it had been up to me, I would have gone for something completely different.
Regards,
Jim
Thanks for cluing us in, She! BoJo has made the best of an impossible challenge, and I hope he gets the reward that he and Britain deserve on 12-12.
Very funny.
My husband and I have an ongoing debate over the quality of “Love Actually.” I’m firmly in the anti-“Love Actually” camp, while he loves it and loves re-watching it. This ad has me re-thinking my stance. Brilliant!
There are some good moments and other very “woke”, creepy, and Left-leaning and disturbing moments. I just have a feeling that over time it will not age well. In fact, since it was released in 2003, I would say that it already hasn’t aged well. Given that it’s a “Christmas” film, perhaps the filmmakers felt everyone would want to watch it every Christmas season.
I like the dog picture. It conveys how Boris is willing to make fun of himself. Too many politicians can’t laugh at themselves, and it will stick with voters.
Agree. I think he’s comfortable in his own rather shambolic skin, and not afraid to look a bit of a fool in a good cause. Probably the best-known example of that is the time when, as Mayor of London, he got stuck on a zip-line in Victoria Park, as part of a publicity stunt pre-the 2012 London Olympics.
I also think he plays that to advantage, and that a lot of people look at him and think that he’s just another political buffoon. They forget that his tenure of Mayor of London was pretty well-regarded. And certainly, he’s played his cards, both those in his own pocket and the ones he was dealt, far better than Theresa May or David Cameron thus far. I think people misunderestimate him at their peril.
We shall see.
I first saw that video on the Powerline blog. My immediate reaction was, “I bet that @she would like this.”
I was right!
Very effective. The horse listened to the entire oration.
As one who takes a professional interest in this type of thing, I thought this ad was brilliant. Imitation being the most sincere form of flattery, don’t be surprised if something similar shows up in the race for Illinois House District 63.
I presume that was really Boris Johnson and not an actor impersonating him. It wasn’t the most demanding acting job ever, but he was pretty good at it. Of course, most politicians are actors of some sort, but I don’t know that all of them could pull it off.
We watch it every Christmas.
You were!
Toss in a card at the very end that says “This is X and I approve this message.”
Then as the candidate is walking off, have him stop as if he just remembered something, and show the back of the last card.
”Thanks, Boris.”
The only way someone would go out in public looking like that is if he absolutely had no choice.
Yeah, that’s Boris.
Brilliant for sure! Britain is lost if he does not win.
I’m Boris Johnson and I approved this message.
Very.
I know nothing of this “Love Actually,” but now am moved to look it up.
<comes back from quick research>
OK, so maybe I have to add this to the Christmas canon, along with “Die Hard,” which every man knows is a Christmas movie.
A Cato Rand sighting? That’s worth at least 500 points in Ricochet Pikachu!
It’s in our Christmas rotation and is not to be missed. Emma Thompson is outstanding as is Bill Nighy.
PS. The prelude is perfect.
I’m still here. I comment occasionally though I’ve got to admit, I’ve taken to looking away from the train wreck that is our politics more and more. But very psyched about Brexit. Five years from now the Brits are going to be thanking god and wondering what they were ever worried about.
I think we have 1.5 days or so till we can get some news on how this next election goes. Should be pretty good.