Dr. Pepper: For Moms Who Want 11 Year-Olds To Check Them Out?

02 Feb, 2005 by John Hawkins

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Admittedly, this is a bit off-topic, but earlier tonight I caught the most bizarre Dr. Pepper commercial and I just had to talk about it on RWN.

It starts out with these young boys, maybe 10, 11, 12, playing around…and then here comes a minivan. Out of it steps a middle-aged, yet still very hot woman, dressed down, to give that sort of “I was just cleaning up some things around the house before I came down to the park” look.

Now here’s where it starts to get weird.

These young boys have these blank, longing stares on their faces that don’t look like they have anything to do with drinking a cool, refreshing Dr. Pepper. Just picture the look most guys would have on their faces if say Laurie Dhue were changing bathing suits in front of them and you get the general idea of how these kids were ogling this woman.

Meanwhile, in the background, the song “Stacy’s Mom” by Fountains of Wayne is playing. For those of you who haven’t heard this tune, it has a catchy hook, “Stacy’s mom has got it goin’ on,” — which is what you hear for the most part in the commercial — but, it’s about a kid who wants to date his girlfriend’s mom. Here are some of the lyrics…

“Stacy, do you remember when I mowed your lawn?
Your mom came out with just a towel on
I could tell she liked me from the way she stared
And the way she said, “You missed a spot over there”

And I know that you think it’s just a fantasy
But since your dad walked out, your mom could use a guy like me”

Then the ad finishes up with the Dr. Pepper being taken out of the van, the kids drinking them down, and “mom” having this pleased smile on her face, as if she’s thinking “I’m surrounded by 11 year old boys who want me and I’m pleasantly surprised at how sexy it makes me feel.”

I’m sure there will be people who’ll disagree with me about this, but the whole ad struck me as more than a little bit creepy. I mean exactly who is Dr. Pepper trying to appeal to with this commercial? 12 year-old kids who have a crush on their friends’ moms? Mary Kay Letourneau clones who have a thing for pre-pubescent boys?

For lack of a better word, it’s an “icky” ad and I’m a little surprised that Dr. Pepper thinks this is going to sell cola for them…

PS: If you’ve seen this ad, tell me what you think in the comments section. Am I off base here or did you get the same vibe from the commercial?