Volkswagen's Latest Commercials Are Right Out of a Movie

There’s confidence, and then there’s “movie star confidence.”

That’s the theme of three new spots from Volkswagen promoting the automaker’s sponsorship of movie presentations on the U.K.’s ITV network. Each ad sends up a familiar Hollywood genre: crime films, spy dramas and zombie flicks. Naturally, VW cars receive prominent roles, and they imbue their drivers with overflowing confidence, even when extreme caution is warranted. 

The creative approach from adam&eveDDB evolved from the shop’s “Complete Confidence” campaign backing VW’s sponsorship of ITV’s soccer coverage.

First, we get some clowning around at a police interrogation, with a boisterously brash attorney defending a bank-robbing bozo:

Next up are some stealthy spy games at an enemy checkpoint. Does our agent speak the language? Nyet! 

Finally, filling up for gas during a zombie apocalypse can get you burned:

Let’s review: Driving Volkswagens can make you overconfident, so you act a fool. That’s … pretty great, right? (Vaguely related aside: Kayak’s take on the “confidence” theme used a shark!)

Seriously, though, there’s no need to overthink these very amusing spoofs directed by David Shane, last spotted cutting up for Supercuts and Clif Bar—and, longer ago, for HBO and Bud Light.

And if a zombie’s in your grill, just take off! We all learned that from the movies, right?

CREDITS

Client: Volkswagen
Agency: adam&eveDDB
Chief Creative Officer: Richard Brim 
Executive Creative Director/s: Ant Nelson, Mike Sutherland
Copywriter: Matt Gay
Art director: Matt Gay
Head of Film: Ben Sharpe
Agency producer/s: Rebecca Holt
Planner/s: Sarah Morning
Managing Partner: Michael McConville
Business Director/s: Matt Harris
Account Director/s: Steve Halliday
Account Manager/s: Andy Billman
Designer/Typographer: King Henry
Media agency: PHD
Media planner/s: Matt Holiday, Michael Bensley
Production company: O Positive @ Rogue 
Director: David Shane
Producer: Nell Jordan 
Executive Producer: Ralph Laucella / Nell Jordan / Marc Grill
Production Manager: Alex Yiaxis
Cinematographer: Stuart Dryburgh
Production Designer: Vova Radlinskiy
Stylist: Gabriela Yiaxis
Zombie Prosthetics: Barrie Gower
Production Service Company: Radioaktive Film, Kiev
Editing Company: The Quarry
Editor: Paul Watts
Post Production: Untold
Post Producer: Ian Berry / Helen Tang
VFX Supervisor: Omar Akkari
2D Artist: George Rockcliffe, Katie Rhodes, Grant Connor, Rich McKean
Grade: Company 3
Colourist: Tom Poole
Audio Post Production: 750 mph
Sound Designer: Sam Ashwell
Music Supervisor: Emily Pritchard @ Twenty Below Music