TurboTax’s ‘Humpty Dumpty’ ad is nightmare fuel

TurboTax’s latest spin on Humpty Dumpty is the stuff of nightmares.

In the tax software companies latest spot, the nursery rhyme character is put into a modern day setting. After doing his taxes on a giant wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. After his fall, Dumpty’s comrades attempt to put him back together piece by piece. With dripping egg and a shattered Humpty Dumpty complaining everything hurts, the spot borders on not-safe-for-work. It’s disgusting.

An ambulance soon arrives and help transport a thinly-pieced-together egg to the hospital. The spot ends with Humpty Dumpty sitting in a brace at a hospital, watching a news broadcast wonder why he was doing his taxes. The message is “you can do your taxes anywhere.” Point conveyed.

I get the point, but the strange mo-cap used to make Humpty Dumpty’s face come to life is terrifying. I’m a 25-year-old grown man and it bugs me. I can’t imagine how a kid watching the commercial would feel. It’s nightmare-inducing – and I think it’s intentional.

The goal in advertising is to make people talk about your product, good or bad. TurboTax accomplishes that goal in this spot. It’s not an ad I will ever willingly watch again, but I won’t be forgetting it anytime soon.

About Liam McGuire

Social +Staff writer for The Comeback & Awful Announcing. Liammcguirejournalism@gmail.com

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