Asda wins Christmas with its Elf inspired advert

Asda has just released this year’s Christmas advert, and it features a very special guest who many will recognise. See it for yourself below.

OK, it’s only early November and Christmas is still a very long way away, but it gets earlier every single year so we’re just going to have to get used to it.

To be fair, we could all use a bit of a pick-me-up with everything happening in the world anyway, right?

If it’s relentless positivity that you’re after, though, there’s not many characters fit to deliver that more than Buddy the Elf, Will Ferrell’s character from the hit Christmas movie Elf.

This year, Asda have managed to cut parts of the film featuring Buddy into their Christmas advert, spinning a narrative about Buddy turning up to interview for a job at Asda.

Using technological wizardry, Buddy has been expertly cut into the advert and can be seen wandering around an Asda supermarket before eventually bagging the job.

Asda

The advert premieres today, so keep your eyes peeled.

In a press release, Asda wrote: “Set to 'Santa Clause is Comin’ to Town' and created by merging classic film footage with newly filmed scenes, the ad charmingly captures Buddy’s wide-eyed wonder and unbridled passion for all things festive as we join him on his first day as a member of the Asda in-store Christmas team.”

Running through an explanation of the advert, the press release continues: “The film opens with a loving homage to Elf’s iconic ‘street crossing’ scene – except this time, it’s a train of Asda shopping trolleys, not a New York City cab, that causes Buddy to exclaim ‘sorry!’ as it crashes into him.

“This marks the beginning of a wondrous (for Buddy), if chaotic (for everyone else) trial shift, which sees Buddy marvel at Asda’s selection of Christmas goodies including some enticing icing sugar sprinkled Extra Special mince pies, eat all the free maple pigs in blankets samples, distract colleagues with his Christmas plans, and take the chance to sing loudly over the store Tannoy system.

“However, when the store closes and Buddy adds his own magic touch, decking out the entire shop floor in fairy lights and festive decorations (while re-christening the ‘elf checkouts’), it’s quickly apparent that when it comes to Christmas, Buddy and Asda are a match made in heaven.

“He’s got the job – and to his delight, he can stay.

“As he dashes – enthusiastically, of course – out of the store, he runs straight into the same shopping trolleys he encountered on his way in, causing a bemused colleague to smile, as the campaign line ‘Have your Elf a Merry Christmas’ flashes up on-screen.”

Asda

Asda’s acting chief customer officer Sam Dickson said: “Like Buddy, we absolutely love Christmas – so we’re thrilled to welcome him to our team.

“We know this has been a tough year for so many people, which is why we want to create some little moments of joy for families this year with our Christmas campaign, and more importantly, our amazing products.

“We hope that with a little bit of help from Buddy, our joy-filled Christmas offering will create some festive magic and helps give families a Christmas to remember together.”

On top of that, Asda have committed to giving a ‘special festive surprise’ to several community groups, as well as collecting toys for children’s charities, and introducing initiatives including £1 meals for OAPs and kids, as well as cost-of-living grants to support those with increased rent and bills.