Junior Planner

Perhaps a little early, but reasonable in terms of securing the market of 'planners' - those rare breeds that shop early, make their lists in July, and do all the wrapping by November. If you know someone that is a planner, the chances are that your gift from them will be fairly boring. 

Nonetheless, these planners do exist, and its important to snap them up before any one else does, which is exactly what Argos has tried to do with its latest TV spot. 

You can watch the 30 second spot here:

Now, I appreciate their efforts to get in their early, but the creative department behind this must surely have realised the obvious connections between their shiny advert and a celebrated scene from 'Love Actually' in which Rowan Atkinson overkills the gift-wrapping process, must to the chagrin of a hurried Alan Rickman character. 

You can see that wonderful scene here, pure physical comedy:

The similarity is there for all to see, but somehow, outright plagiarism is there for all to see, and the creators of the new Argos advert don't seem to mind. 

There is just no excuse for this form of blatant copying. In my mind certainly, the commanding thought that arises from this advert is one of disappointment that the agency, CHI, have refused to come up with any original content. I am left with a negative opinion of sham brand Argos, cheap imitators. 

Is this just me though? Will the normal consumer be affected by the same moral pangs? I don't think so. They will just see this ad, perhaps think about the scene from Love Actually, be amused by the connection, and then go and buy Love Actually, probably from Argos. 

Well done to CHI and Argos for being the first off the Christmas mark, but in a season which repeats itself every year, with the same mince pies and the same predictable presents, someone needs to stand out.

Bad Ad: Argos Christmas