McDonald’s has brought the UK to tears with its Christmas ad, this year.
The spot, set around Christmas time, features a mother interacting with her teenage son and trying to convince him to engage in various holiday-related activities. First, she shows up in his room with a box of decorations, suggesting they decorate their Christmas tree, but the boy refuses. During a walk through a Christmas market, she playfully does an impression of a reindeer, but the boy puts his headphones on and walks off. These scenes also include the reactions of the boy’s inner child-like self, which are always positive. However, the teen slowly gives in to his inner self after going to a McDonald’s drive-thru. When he and his mom return home, the latter challenges him to a snowball fight and he joins in. Later on, inside, he brings the box of Christmas decorations and then grabs a pack of McDonald’s “reindeer” carrots, which they put on a plate near the fireplace for Santa and his reindeers. “Are you #ReindeerReady?” an onscreen line reads at the end of the 90-second video.
Serving as soundtrack is a cover of the iconic “Forever Young” (originally by German synthpop pop band Alphaville), performed by British singer-songwriter Becky Hill. The song, recorded specially for the restaurant chain’s Christmas spot, was released to raise money for FareShare, which will see McDonald’s donating 10p from every download to charity. The fast-food restaurant chain has also announced that it will be extending its partnership with the charity FareShare to provide other 5 million meals to families in need until April 2021.
“Our heart-warming tale of Tom and his mum aims to reignite the magic of Christmas across the UK and Ireland this winter. That moment as the pair reconnect over the reindeer treats, saved from their trip through the Drive Thru, represents the common truth of children determined to grow up but swept up by the festive spirit. I am sure it is a feeling that will be familiar to so many families and in this year we are proud to be spreading some much-needed Christmas cheer with this multi-channel campaign,” Michelle Graham-Clare, McDonald’s Vice President, Menu and Marketing said in a press statement.
McDonald’s advert was highly praised on social media, especially on Twitter, with hundreds of users declaring that it’s the best Christmas ad this year.
