Toyota RAV4 Happy Together Not

Toyota New Zealand has promoted the RAV4 with ‘Happy Together’, a crazy television commercial in the vein of the movie, “War of the Roses”.

A couple wake up in bed together holding hands in what appears a mood of happiness. But as they get ready for the exciting day ahead things start to go wrong. There’s a hair dryer in the shower. A cord cut in the sash window. A bowling ball stowed in the cupboard. A flame thrower in the walk in wardrobe. A trip wire over the stairs. What becomes clear is that this couple are fighting over the new RAV4 waiting down on the street. The ad finishes with a climactic explosion and a ‘getaway’ scene. There’s no voiceover. Just the super: “RAV4 A Car to Make Your Own”. Click on the image below to play the video in YouTube (HD)

New Zealanders are able to explore the ad in more depth at the RAV4 microsite where they can view behind the scenes flash videos. Clips show Andrew Lesnie, cinematographer from Lord of the Rings and King Kong, at work, hair and makeup, falling down the stairs, the electrocution stunt, the landing on the car roof, the staging of the bowling ball scene, blowing up the house, and a ‘roof with a view’. Online viewers are invited to vote on their favourite scene.

Credits

The campaign was created at Saatchi & Saatchi NZ by creative director Toby Talbot, creatives Jay Benjamin, Andy DiLallo, and agency producer Fiona Champtaloup.

The Plaza Films team included director Paul Middleditch and director of photography Andrew Lesnie, known for their work on the Carlton Draught Big Ad.

Editor was Jonathan Venz. Post production was done at The LaB, Sydney.

Happy Together Music

The music for the ad is ‘Happy Together’, written by G. Bonner and A. Gordon, recorded by The Turtles in 1967. The Turtles are Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, also known as Flo and Eddie.

Download the Turtles track online at iTunes.

Happy Together Lyrics

Imagine me and you, I do
I think about you day and night,
it’s only right
To think about the girl you love
and hold her tight
So happy together

If I should call you up,
invest a dime
And you say you belong to me
and ease my mind
Imagine how the world
could be, so very fine
So happy together

I can’t see me lovin’
nobody but you
For all my life
When you’re with me,
baby the skies’ll be blue
For all my life

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they
toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you,
and you for me
So happy together

I can’t see me lovin’
nobody but you
For all my life
When you’re with me,
baby the skies’ll be blue
For all my life

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they
toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you,
and you for me
So happy together

Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-
ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-
ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together
So happy together
How is the weather
So happy together
We’re happy together
So happy together
Happy together
So happy together
So happy together (ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba)

Update – Banned

The ad has been withdrawn from NZ televisions after a finding by the NZ Advertising Standards Complaints Board, after concerns were expressed about the unsafe practices shown in the spot.