The all-time most memorable moment from the 1989 social satire When Harry Met Sally is the (in)-famous ‘Fake Orgasm’ sequence shot on location at New York’s legendary Katz’s Deli… Now, Hellman’s Mayo is celebrating its 35th Anniversary…
… In a Super Bowl commercial, recreating the hilarious ‘Climax’ with a some updated elements. Mak-ing it yet another – maybe the best – ‘newstalgia’ concept yet to grace our screens…
Sex a sticking point…
Fifteen years after their original meeting, Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) have reunited as ‘just friends’. But sex, or implications thereof, keep creeping into the conversation.
While lunching at Katz’s, the conversation turns to whether women fake orgasms. Harry insists no woman he’s ever been with ever had to. Sally gives him a slow burn. Then launches into her version of a classic fake climax. Pounding the table and shrieking with ecstasy.
Harry looks on, trying to appear unimpressed.
When Sally concludes her performance she returns immediately to intense, nonchalant concentration on her sandwich. And after a moment’s total silence, an older lady a couple of tables away, who has been taking it all in, tells her server: “I’ll have what she’s having…”
It was the Hellman’s, all along…
It’s the ultimate flash back, starting with a clip of the original version from the movie, and magically segueing to the ‘today’ version – featuring Harry and Sally as they look 35 years later. Sill ordering the same thing every week at Katz’s.
The message is… Both Hellman’s and Sally ‘still have what it takes’…
My take
With 30-second Super Bowl commercial slots costing up to (US)$8 million each this year, I know I’d have a hard time coming up with a creative concept worthy of the luxe placement. But I can’t think of anything more appropriate – on it’s own 35th anniversary, no less – than resurrecting and updating this unparalleled cine-moment.
Maybe the Best Food-Related TV Commercial of All Time!
I’m already tearing up…
~ Maggie J.