Peter Crouch humps corner flag in a romcom-inspired Paddy Power ad
Paddy Power has teamed up with footballer Peter Crouch and referee Mark Clattenburg to reimagine scenes from American Beauty and Dirty Dancing in the hopes of exciting fans ahead of the start of the Premier League season.
In ‘Love Football. Intimately,’ Crouch appears as viewers have never seen him before (unless you’re Abbey Clancy, who also features in the ad). It all begins in the pub when the striker is triggered by a red card and swept away into a football fantasy. Once there, viewers see Crouch languishing in a bubble bath scattered with red cards on a candlelit halfway line as he gazes suggestively down the lens.
Submerged in a tub of bubbles, à la American Beauty, he confesses he loves it when Clattenburg “sends [players] for an early bath.” He then moves his attention to the corner flag, demonstrating moves that would make Channing Tatum blush, admitting he loves it when Clattenburg lets “the corner flag take center stage.”
Protagonist Clattenburg – sporting a ‘sweet FA’ referee kit – stares seductively down the lens as he suggestively sprays some vanishing free kick spray, while Peter admires the way the World Cup final referee takes control... followed by some further bubble action courtesy of Crouch. As the ad reaches its crescendo, the two recreate the iconic lift from Dirty Dancing.
Michelle Spillane, brand and marketing director at Paddy Power, said: “It’s a nostalgic romcom-tastic tale of romance, fantasy and our unwavering true love for all parts of football – if Harry Met Sally at a Spurs match.
“The team at Droga5 has ensured that it’s perfectly self-deprecating and although there’s a whole load of Hollywood-style production and magic, what matters is that it is storytelling at its absolute finest. It doesn’t rely on A-list celebs – it’s got Crouch-Power and that’s what resonates with fans more than anything.”
The spot will air on UK TV on the evening of Saturday August 20.
Credits
Client: Paddy Power
Brand and marketing director: Michelle Spillane
Brand marketing manager: Patrick Boyce
Head of brand strategy: Leah Spears
Head of sportsbook marketing: James O’Reilly
Brand manager: Natasha Son
Brand executive: Aggie Rabadia
PR manager UK&I: Rachael Kane
PR Agency: Ready 10
Agency: Droga5 London
Chief creative officer: Shelley Smoler
Creative director: Martin Beswick and Ed Redgrave
Art director: Alex Robson
Copywriter: Florence Russell
Head of strategy: Damien Le Castrec
Strategy director: Aaron Harridge
Senior strategist: Rozina Bashir
Agency producer: Ben Catford
Producer: Olly West
Group account director: Oli Morgan
Account director: Dom Kocur
Senior account manager: Matt Brown
Director/production co: Traktor/Stink
Producer: Paz Parasmand
DoP: Dan Bronks
Editor: Rick Russell at Final Cut
Post-production: Nineteentwenty
Sound design: Adam Smyth at String & Tins
Stills photographer: Nick Dolding
Nineteentwenty Credits
Creative director: Bill McNamara
2D VFX supervisor: Ryan Hadfield
2D artists: Rod Norman, Adam McHale, James Russell, Tom Clapp, Rob Lilley, Taylor Webber, Alejandro Marzo, Matt Hutchins, Tijan Holder and Yanru Yin
3D VFX supervisor: Chris King/Mike Farrar
3D artists: Ben Thomas, David Renscenyi, Elena Schurkus, Joe Baker, Lucy Wright, Maria Coca Menchero, Oscar Hill, Adam Gramlick and Danai Rizou
DMP artist: Benita Winckler
AFX artist: Sandra Clua
Colorist: Kai Van Beers
Color assist: Jennifer Kerr
VFX producer: Ross Culligan
Production assistant: Heather Brown
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