Dude’s love football. Universal hopes that dude’s will love Neighbors. So even though the movie has nothing to do with sports, the latest commercial for the upcoming comedy goes right after ESPN’s target demographic by placing co-stars Seth Rogen and Zac Efron in a weight room with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The spot has been posted to Universal’s YouTube page. You likely can see it 100 times a day on ESPN’s vast network of channels.
But wait. How on Earth is Neighbors going to market itself to the ladies?! Oh yeah.
And yes, even this one.
Back to the ESPN spot. It doesn’t feature any new footage from the movie. It leans on the chemistry between Efron and Rogen, and allows them to play off of Rodgers, who’s actually a charismatic screen presence. You probably have seen his State Farm commercials. He’s the "Discount Double-Check" spokesperson.
Pairing actors with athletes just reminds me of the great commercials ESPN usually cooks up for its annual ESPYs awards show, where Hollywood and sports icons gather under one roof to celebrate amazing plays from the prior year. I don’t believe Rogen was ever in attendance for one of those, but maybe the next time Rodgers gets on stage to accept and ESPY, his new besties from Neighbors can tag along.
Neighbors stars Efron and Rogen as two men at war when a fraternity moves next door to a young family. Directed by Nick Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), it is legitimately funny. You can find out for yourself when it opens on May 9.
