Tuesday, July 29, 2008

JCPenney Serves Up a Little Breakfast

John Hughes' classic ode to 80's teen angst The Breakfast Club is getting a lot of love these days. Not only was its iconic imagery co-opted for the recent documentary American Teen (in theaters now), but its most memorable moments have been recreated in commercial form by retailer JCPenney.

With a cover of the Simple Minds' anthem "Don't You Forget About Me" as its soundtrack, the 30-second and one minute spots (airing on TV and in movie theaters, respectively) -- part of a surprisingly extensive back to school campaign -- have received some oddly hostile criticisms from online advertising pundits.

Apparently, these bitchy curmudgeons are unaware of the enduring appeal of a brain, a beauty, a jock, a rebel and a recluse.

2 comments:

akirakid said...

Apparently the detractors of this ad don't seem to realize that it is not aimed at the kids but at their parents. Many parents still take their kids back to school shopping and this ad plays on the nostalgia of the 80's teen and shows how today's fashions fit on Breakfast Club stereotypes. So that fond rememberance would encourage Mom & Pop 80's kid to take their teens to JC Penny and go wild.

Kirby Holt said...

You nailed it.

Thanks for commenting!

- kch