As a card-carrying member of the trans language police, the gender language police, the sexism police, the heterosexism police, and several other fictitious law-enforcement organizations that don’t actually issue membership cards, I should hate this ad.
I should be offended by the negative reference to a man smelling “like a lady” and why that’s a bad thing. I should be offended by the inference that men have to smell a certain way to be manly, and that men have to be a certain way to be manly.
I should be offended by the suggestion that straight women are sitting around waiting for their man to smell good, bring them tickets to some random “thing” they love, or bring them diamonds.
But I’m not.
In fact, every time I watch the Isaiah Mustafa Old Spice ad, I laugh out loud. So far, I haven’t gotten tired of it. Not only is Mustafa drop-dead gorgeous, which is reason enough to watch him running around without a shirt 20 times an hour, but he’s perfect for this ad.
His facial expression is priceless, he delivers his lines perfectly, and his voice is incredible. The whole ad, in my opinion, is brilliantly conceived and crafted. It’s 30 seconds of pure entertainment that’s meant to sell Old Spice and will.
Just for the record, I have no affiliation with Old Spice, other than that my dad used to wear it. I haven’t smelled it since he died in 1981. He didn’t look like Isaiah Mustafa (unfortunately for me, because I inherited most of my dad’s appearance genes, and if he had looked like Mustafa, then so would I), although he was rather clever.
But neither his appearance nor his sense of humor had anything to do with wearing Old Spice — and neither does Mustafa’s. Regardless, this commercial makes me want to buy Old Spice. Forgive me.
(From YouTube)
I didn’t see anything to get offended about. I personally love the commercial, I thought it was clever. I think we (human beings) sometimes go out looking for reasons to get offended.
My partner and I also love it madly. We have TiVoed it and broken it down line by line…imitating his delivery and trying to determine how it was accomplished.
It’s brilliant…and it’s hilarious…
We’ve also seen it twice on the big screen at movies theaters…and people in the audience suddenly shut up and watch…and they laugh a lot.
The funniest thing about it is the fact that it’s for Old Spice! I mean, who would wear THAT? Have we been transported back to 1975? Has there been some MAJOR shift in the scent that makes Old Spice current?
I think it’s a testament to the comedy that it doesn’t offend me. When comedy is actually well-crafted and intelligent I don’t care how far the content goes. It’s comedy.
I listen to The Howard Stern Show on Sirius…and this actor contacted them somehow to let them know how big a fan he is. They said they are going to try to book him for an interview. I know it’s not politically correct for me to listen to the Stern show (I feel he and that show are massively misunderstood and misrepresented)…and the fact that this brilliant actor also responds to the same subversive humor makes me love him all the more!!
Yup that was clever and funny! Great voice and very handsome. Never seen it before. My dad and grandpa wore Old Spice, so it always brings back good memories when I smell it.
Yes it plays to the macho male stereotype men seem expected to be. So what? It’s funny! Are we suppose to be gender deconstructionists? Humorless?
Hardly ever see ads now that commercial channels are recorded and ads wizzed through at speed but the best ones are gems, this one is very cleverly done but sold me nothing. I like my Chanel No. 5!
I used to get this stuff back when they thought I was a boy! I hated the stink and all it stood for. They never asked why they were never opened!!!!!
Caroline XXX
I must not be the last dude to wear Old Spice. Yeah, I do smell like my Dad and Grandpa, but I don’t mind that, and plus, my GF likes the smell of it. Re: Howard Stern, look up his Buck Angel interview, and decide for yourself.
Even when skipping through commercials, if my girlfriend and I spot this we always back up and watch it a couple times (or more). I never get sick of it! I love saying “You’re with the man your man could smell like” when she comes over! Yes, I have paused at the Old Spice Body wash and look around making sure no one is watching!!!! Love it
why would you be offended??? It’s totally making FUN of gender stereotypes!!! Let’s face it, the product itself has become a gender stereotype, and they came up with a way to play right into that in a wonderfully ironic and hilarious way.
Humor nowadays has multiple layers of irony and if you don’t “get” it, you’re just bound for a rough ride through victim-land. (and no, Stephen Colbert doesn’t really believe the things he says.) ;~)
~ hb33, an old-fart who still “gets” it ~
OMG! “Look back at me” “I’m on a horse” Fantastic.
Here’s a link to a video where the creators of the commercial are interviewed and they explain how it was done:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDk9jjdiXJQ
Here’s the follow-up 15 second commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpUrz9RvuPk&feature=related
I’m mildly transgendered