AllsWell communicates well?

A young lady sits at a foodcourt. There are two bottled drinks on the table and it appears that she is awaiting her male companion to arrive for dinner. He arrives, asks what drink she has ordered for him and calls for the drink-seller to order another drink instead. She insists that the drink is good for him, especially with the hot weather, and persuades him to take the bottled drink instead. “But why?” he asks, whining slightly. There is a pause before she replies with that killer line “Because I love you.”

We’ve almost all seen this advertisement by AllsWell drinks.

Here is the link to the advertisement, for your viewing pleasure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJRkAlRDuJI

As reported in “Singlish ad gets laughs”, an article in the 21st September edition of The Sunday Times, this advertisements has quite a one-sided review. Many people find it “lame”, and quite cheesy, especially with the lady’s killer line. Does that line really work? Could it work in real life?

Nevertheless, I think this advertisement does communicate well. It appeals to the everyday person, since the actors in the advertisement look like a young, working couple, and they eat at a foodcourt, something everyday Singaporeans do. In this way, it communicates to the everyday person, which is good since AllsWell’s target market is that of the mass market.

Besides the dialogue in the advertisement, we can also note the non-verbal communication that takes place. In terms of paralinguistics, the pitch and tone of voice from the couple does add another dimension to the message sent. When the lady insists on the man taking the AllsWell drink, her tone indicates her persistence. Also, the man’s reply shows that he is reluctant. Of course the artifacts in the commercial help the audience understand that the scene is based in a foodcourt setting. In this way, the message of the advertisement is easy to understand.

This advertisement has been much talked-about, and by so-doing, has done well. Advertisements are often used to generate awareness and by becoming a talking point, people have definitely become more aware of the local bottled drink brand. Besides, AllsWell reported a 10% increase in sales after the advertisement started airing.

What do you think about how this advertisement communicates?