Volkswagen, Big Day

Members:

2001 Television 85% Report A Problem

A man impatiently drives down a rainy road, as a woman readies herself in a bride outfit.

A number of things slow down the speeding driver -- a slow moving camper, a passing train -- as he bows his head in exasperation, then yells.

He races up to the front of the church, just as the minister proclaims the famous words allowing the stoppage of a union, "...Speak now or forever hold your peace." At that moment, he runs in and both groom and bride look back at his interruption of the ceremony -- he is someone's old flame.

Though the ad shows more of the bride throughout, and the camera lingers on her at the end, some in the gay community have interpreted this ad's meaning as open. They see the possibility of the man having a pre-existing relationship with either the groom or the bride.

It is the second time Volkswagen has created a Gay Vague commercial that appears to allow a reading either way, following their well-known "Da, Da, Da" commercial about two young men who salvage a chair in their hatchback together.

Company

Volkswagen

Brand

Volkswagen Golf/Gol

Industry

Automotive

Media Outlet

Television

Country

United States

Region

North America

Agency

Arnold Worldwide

AdRespect Themes

Gay Vague

User Comments

Dona

This commercial had me in tears. I think it had to be one of the most romantic of all times. I have the initial impression that the driver had some sort of involvement with the groom, but as the commercial went on, I realized that this was one of the bride's old flings..... Or was it a new one???? Nonetheless still a classic.

Scott Alamar

You have got to be kidding right? Gay vague? The ad makes this quite clear. Wishful thinking on those in the community thinking this is open-ended. Oh wait, the groom will end up with a boy toy in a Hyundai while his wife picks up his dry cleaning in another Hyundai with her boy toy riding shot gun. Gotta stay in that closet.

Autkaest

I don't think that the volkswagen ad implies that the man rushing to the wedding could be gay. If you look at the groom when he and the bride both stare at the driver who has just showed up, the groom looks again at his bride, almost as if to say,"Who is this guy??" And I think that the fact that the bride stares at the driver implies that she knows very well who he is, and that the groom doesn't. Also it is clear that the driver is making eye contact with the bride and not the groom. To imply that this ad is "bi" is absurd.

Emryss

I loved this ad! It first aired when I was a freshman, it seemed everyone was singing this the next day. All it took to get most of the class humming it was to go "da,da,da". Even teachers weren't able to avoid it! Funny thing is, it seemed half my homeroom also got the gay subtext because it sparked a *lot* of conversation (that and the whole episode thing...).

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