Rakuten has enlisted actor James Kirkland to portray Santa Claus in its Christmas 2022 commercial.
The spot, titled “Cash Back You Can Believe In”, features Kirkland’s character talking to one of his elves about Rakuten and its Cash Back function.
He says he gets skeptical when things seem too good to be true, but when it comes to Rakuten he believes that giving customers cashback on top of their favorite deals is not “holiday magic” – like his helper thinks – but “just good sense”. As the two are walking through the gift factory line, where he doesn’t hesitate to praise some of the elves for their work, Santa tells his helper that he doesn’t want to tell him what to believe in and that he believes in Rakuten.
The commercial ends abruptly, with Santa and the elf heading out of the building to see the reindeer-drawn sleigh, filled with gift boxes, waiting for him. An onscreen line encourages viewers to download the app, shop and save.
Kirland, known for roles in “Sing It!”, “Cuddly Toys”, “My Long Distance Relationship” and more, is no stranger to advertising. His portfolio includes appearances in ad campaigns for TomTom GPS and Mike’s Hard Lemonade.
