The Mayhem Man from the Allstate campaign is easily recognizable. We’ve seen him engage in various outrageous acts that create chaos in everyday life. In this ad, he portrays a bear that has just woken up from a nap and is eager to dig into the tasty snacks left in your car while you and your family are out hiking.
The comical relief in this ad makes it memorable. A man dressed in a tattered suit and bandages on his face is walking through trees and starts the ad by saying, “I’m a bear. I’m comin’ out of hibernation after the best nap of my life—and Papa is hungry.” He’s obviously not a bear, but he is trying to symbolize one and begins destroying the car in the same fashion that a real bear would.
This ad engages the audience, making them feel as if the vehicle shown belongs to them. The author successfully places the viewers in the perspective of a family who has parked their car to go hiking. The “bear” breaks into the car and ransacks it, removing the entire car door and the side view mirror, and rummages through the snacks. This fear tactic wants to make viewers worry about the coverage they have on their vehicles.
The only clue that this is an insurance advertisement until later is that many of us recognize him from past Allstate commercials, where he creates chaos in different situations. As this man is wrapping up pretending to be a bear and wrecking the car, he says, “Your cut-rate car insurance might not pay for all of this. So get Allstate and be better protected from mayhem like me. Roar.” Once again, making us chuckle, this ad suggests that Allstate would cover such chaos and prompts viewers to consider whether their current insurance would protect them in such a situation.
The advertisement uses both fear and humor to convey its message: Allstate will be there for you when mayhem arises, and your current carrier may not. While some may think of these ads as corny, they are successful in capturing their audience and leaving a lasting impression. If you ask someone if they’ve seen the Allstate Mayhem campaign, they will most likely immediately know what you’re referring to. They’re short and funny while also begging a serious question - does your current insurance cover mayhem like Allstate?
The blend of humor and chaos really makes the ad stand out and keeps viewers engaged. I love how it cleverly connects the idea of mayhem to the importance of good insurance coverage. It’s a memorable way to remind people to think about their protection while still making them laugh!
ReplyDelete