God of War is launching its marketing campaign for its forthcoming release, and in this, Ben Stiller has started a father and child support group. I can see what you’re getting at here: Essentially modern god of wars is about a troubled father-son relationship. And…Lebron James and John Travolta are bald with beards? But isn’t it Ben Stiller? So is he responsible? And they are all Kratos fans? Yeah, no, I can’t see what you’re getting at here. I lied.
Well look, you have your own brain and opinion, just see for yourself. And yes, these are her real children:
While there are a few nice lines in it – “LeBreakthrough” (the first time it’s used) and the final “It is a costume”, work for me – the entire commercial feels like a missed attempt to recapture Stiller’s glorious ’90s debut, The Ben Stiller Show.
Sadly forgotten – and yes, I promoted this story just so I can keep jerking off about it –The Ben Stiller Show was an absolutely pivotal comedy series. The series, which aired on MTV from 1990-1991 and was revived by Fox from 1992-1993, not only brought Ben Stiller, Andy Dick and Janeane Garofalo to fame, but more importantly, brought in writers David Cross and Bob Odenkirk together. The latter two would go on Mr Show with Bob & Davidthe best sketch comedy ever The children in the halland still to improve (although Aunt Donna Come closer).
The Ben Stiller Show was intriguing for many reasons, not the least of which was that it had neither a studio audience nor any form of laugh track, something unheard of in the early 1990s. Decades ahead of his time, he pioneered that awkward single-camera vibe that would go on to become so famous The office, 30 rocksand so on, and then more recently picked up by sketch comedy Auntie Donna’s house of funand the recent revival series of children in the hall.
Through this lens, I pay way too much attention to this weird and slightly crappy ad that everyone else in the YouTube comments seems to enjoy. I can see those classic Stiller vibes in it, his head tilted, characters slipping in and out of character, and Stiller’s faux-or-is-it vanity. And it just makes me sad that this short-lived period of wonderful sketch comedy got stuck there, 30 years in the past, and wasn’t magically revived by the world’s greatest basketball player of all time and this creepy Scientologist dude. I may have anticipation issues and strong opinions about artists doing commercials.
But seriously, look at this. It is extraordinary. Train on roller skates to a puppet show of police corruption. Then download all of them Mr Look because you no longer have a DVD player.
God of War: Ragnarok comes out on November 9th and we’ll have our review soon.
