I prefer ir-reverand (Stella Artois - Flowers)

Member Name: buttonman

Product:	Stella Artois - Flowers
Date:	15/09/00 (398 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Reassuring

Disadvantages: Expensive

I always thought Stella Artois advertising slogan which highlighted it's expensiveness was a touch stuck up as it tried to distance themselves from the lager lad image that beer in general has.Given that it has a potent 5% volume it's more likley to get you jolly than my favourite tipple,Miller and is therefore more likley to be the cause of you public affray arrest.Not that they could prove anything <ahem!>.

Their product did go up in my estimation by this series of witty and well shot ads. The ads have a classic and timeless feel and although the dialogue is still in French you don't get the impression that the ads have been shoved on intact to save a few Francs.

The subect of this catagory 'Flowers' is probably the least shown where I live - could it be that we Scots would fail to sympathise with a cissy flower seller?!.The poor alcholic in this case gives up a whole cart of carnations for one glass of the gassy brew.Bet the inland revenue believed that one!Lushly shot in a classical style, no doubt this and the other ads in the series will grace our screens for some time.

Other ads in the series include 'Good Samaritan' in which the hero stops at the bar after helping out all of the locals.Despite their gratitude they baulk at coughing up for the premium beer leaving our hero fixing the roof to pay his bar bill.In another more recent ad the bar manager's son come back from the war and is given some of the intoxicating ale.He then introduces his friend who saved his life.Despite being grateful this deed does not merit any amber fluid and he's palmed off with some wine after the beer supposedly runs out,where infact the landlord is blocking the pipe with his foot.The moral of these two must be never do a Frenchman a favour,which is good advice at the best of times!

My favourite ad in the series must of course be the one with the vicar. This involves an old man seemingly on his death bed. A
n obliging relative fulfils various last wishes such as getting a flower for the dying man.

When he expresses a wish for Stella Artois the assembled relatives grumble as they have a whip round for the old man's last beer.Our hero is despatched to fetch the beer but succums to temptation on the way home and quoffs the lot.

On his return he is met by the local priest who presumably has arrived to deliver the last rites. Our hero takes the priest's coat and hands him the empty glass to hold. As they enter the dying man's room he sits up to see the priest with his empty glass with our hero doing the 'drinky-drinky' motion over his shoulder suggesting that the cleric has guzzled his last beer.

This really is a comedy masterpiece and I feel that despite it's continental flavour it must have been shot for the British market-the French arn't that funny are they?.

Overall a great series of ads that always raise a chuckle despite repeated viewings.Writing about them has worked up a thirst so I'm off for some Grolsh.Well c'mon I'm only getting 10p for this,reassuringly expensive is a comfort that I can ill afford!

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