A law firm's good intentions have resulted in a howling dog of a commercial.

The advert is for Sheffield firm SSB, part of the Quality Solicitors network. The star, a young man in a toga waving a spatula, is blessed with enviable levels of commitment, but less range than the lovechild of Rupert Grint and Ron Weasley.



And he must have done something pretty impressive on the casting couch because he doesn't have one part, he has both of them.

   

The creators are media studies students at Sheffield Hallam University. The university asked local businesses to provide advertising briefs in return for a free commercial. SSB requested a spot on the dangers of dying intestate, so it deserves this. The students described their Roman crotchpunch of a video as a "viral advertisement" when they uploaded it, which was a bit presumptuous because at the time no-one had seen it, which is technically the opposite of viral.

However RollOnFriday has now watched it 11 times and their optimism seems well-founded. It truly is "made in the style of the successful Apple campaign 'I'm a PC & I'm a Mac'", in that both have white backgrounds and exist.

When RollOnFriday called the firm, partner Jeremy Brooke was surprised to learn that the piece was already online. He said that he and his partners thought they were going to be watching it for the first time that afternoon, presumably to check it was acceptable before it went live (and viral). Brooke watched the ad while RollOnFriday waited on the line. Afterwards a defeated-sounding Brooke said, "What would you like me to say?" Which says it all.
 
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Comments

Anonymous 07 November 14 08:27

I think it's brilliant. It's a student film and a slightly limp but at least the firm is doing a bit in the community and giving the students some exposure. They should link to it on the CSR section of their website.

Anonymous 07 November 14 10:44

I think it's great. A lot better than the sanctimonious dirge that is most high street firms' advertisements.

Anonymous 07 November 14 14:44

The things vac schemers will do for a job in this market.... I hope his drafting skills are better than his acting.

Not since the closing scene to Star Wars Episode 3 has such a woeful attempt at screaming the word "Noooooooo" been made. Although, its almost as if it echoes the cries of every trainee that's ever been given a new job at 5.30 on a Friday night by a partner exiting the office.

Anonymous 01 December 14 18:38

Frankly I like it and I really hope it goes viral. I can't see how the image of a man in a toga falling to his knees and screaming "nooooo" at the thought of the consequences of dying intestate wouldn't go viral. Hell, I don't want to live in a world where it doesn't....