trying a bit too hard

The McDonalds commercial with the guy that's got a brother with Down Syndrome is, uhm, just okay. It has good intentions, it was tastefully made, it has okay actors, but it just didn't do it for me. Maybe the script plus the build-up was just too cheesy to be plausible? I felt that they just had to use a guy with DS to get a quick "awww" from viewers. In fact, if I look at it at another angle, they just actually promoted discrimination (through overly-emphasized special attention) against people with disabilities. In fairness to them though, trying to get people's attention over a few seconds of film is a bit of a challenge. It is hard, but it is possible. Heck, Bamboo's "Basta't May Plano" TVC made me cry even if I can't relate to the characters.

If I were given the chance to write the script for that commercial, I would have done it like this:

The commercial starts with a shot of a young teenage boy (the age when bullying is still very rampant) who is seen happily playing a game with his friends. The game can be simple, like tag or frisbee - but not actual sports. The camera's focus would be on the younger brother having fun in slow-mo... smiling and laughing with his friends and all. And then the boy's attention shifts to somewhere distant; as if seeing somebody familiar approaching. Without any change on his expression, still with a smile, the boy is seen motioning for someone to come over. Yep, you guessed it right. He's excitedly calling for his bother (who's got DS) to play with them. The camera then pans to the older brother who sees him and starts running to join them, seemingly excited to play as well. And they would play without prejudice and discrimination. The scene continous with the kids playing their game happily as if nothing is unusual... as if no one's sick. The actors don't really have to try hard to get the viewer's symphaty. They just need to make sure that their emotions are oblivious of any change that usually happens when we encounter people with DS. There's no special treatment or pity. It's just about a kid who wants his brother to play with them.

And then they'd all go to McDonalds afterwards to get those god-damned Minions Happy Meal. The end.

OR... I would retain the same commercial concept but I'd take out the DS angle completely. Instead of a guy with DS, the older brother would be a rich-looking professional wearing expensive-looking stuff. The younger brother would still go back to get an extra sauce packet because his older brother was busy talking over the phone (with a very expensive phone, perhaps) to do it himself. As the younger brother settles in his seat, the older brother puts down the phone and looks genuinely appreciative of his brother's attempt to treat him with breakfast. And they'd talk normally while eating their simple, affordable meal in contentment. The commercial ends with the older brother jokingly say, "bukas, sagot mo ulit a." The end.

That would have made me "awww" because my younger brother has yet to treat me breakfast. Haha...