Sell it to Me

Some times what makes an advertisement effective is doing one thing and doing it well. That is what makes this particular advertisement stand out.   There are no characters, an nondescript setting, and the only actors are the mechanical pieces of the Rube Goldberg Machine.  Like looking at a clock, what grabs the attention of the viewer is the complexity and movement of the pieces.


What sells the product is the one line asked by the narrator at the end, "Isn't it nice when things just work?"  and the text "Honda" at the end.  These two small things tie into several cultural biases with just a few claims.  It is implied that just as everything perfectly worked in the Rube Goldberg, so too does a Honda.  Hondas are known for their reliability amongst consumers and this commercial conveys this cultural bias.  This simple and direct message is effectively conveyed in this commercial.