Hammer & Coop Episode 1 & 2
We have something very special for you today; the premier* of the first two episodes of MINI USA’s Hammer & Coop series. For those that missed all the initial commotion, MINI USA and their agency BSSP have created a web only series (w/some limited theatre release) that features the new 2007 R56 MINI along with all the late 70’s early 80’s kitsch found in films like Starsky & Hutch.
But enough talking. Behold, episode 1 & 2 of Hammer & Coop:
Hammer & Coop Episode 1: The Clean Getaway
Hammer & Coop Episode 2: Dawn of Silverfox
It may be worth noting that, despite us playing it straight, most of you were able to sniff out some very clever MINI marketing a few weeks back for being just that. Kudos to all that did. As you might expect we had decided to not ruin the surprise and let things happen as planned by MINI. So … surprise!
H&C has been in the works at MINI and BSSP for well over a year now and the fruit of all that hard work will be seen over the next few weeks. Look for an episode every week for the next few weeks culminating in an exciting finale.
*It looks like the Owners Lounge jumped the gun a bit yesterday and posted the episodes a little earlier than intended. So in light of that, consider this the full web premier.
Cool vids! Hey when did Phil Wicks get a job doing voice-overs?!
“I’m feeling a bit… dirty.”
Dave
boy, they sure are trying REALLY hard to make sure people don’t think the MINI is a chic car.
hammer is the guy from MAD TV awesome just realized that! and the guy chasing him in the pickup is Ogre from Revenge of the Nerds. fantastic!!
excellent
Does anyone know the option code for the lightning graphics? My MA doesn’t have it.
nerds!
Maybe it’s just me, but shouldn’t a MINI be able to completely lose an old 4WD Ford F-150 pickup truck especially when you factor in quick turns and tight alleys.
I love the lightning stripe graphic!!! Those are absolutely hilarious commercials. I know it isnt reality and meant for more commercial drama but it was a little sad though that the Ford f250 was able to stay that close, especially during the turns, maybe they should have used a GTI ; ^ )
excellent – I can’t wait to show my newhew
excellent – I can’t wait to show my nephew – ugg. no edit on this web tool huh?
weren’t photos of the alley chase shown on motoring file when the R56 was still in spyshot mode? regardless, genious.
I’ve been thinking about the R53 used for the stuntwork. If you notice in the scenes in which the MINI crashes through the window and the mirror, it is an R53. I wonder if this is some slight humor about the R56 needing a “stuntman” so it doesn’t get hurt, similar to how you could notice in the old shows that the person doing the rough stuff was someone else disguised to resemble the actual actor.
I can’t think of a technical reason the R53 would be used over the R56, so if this is true, then great attention to the details by BSSP and MINI!
My guess regarding the R53 for stuntwork is that they probably only had 1 R56 available for shooting. It was the “Star”, and they didn’t want to mess it up in the stunts, so they used R53 “standins” for that purpose – lots of R53s around. If one gets scratched, dented, etc. just get another one.
Remember this was shot back when the R56 was pre-production – not many of them around at that time. I’m sure they were treated as “precious” commodities.
That’s my tuppence-worth…
Rich.
Just tell me where that car wash is…
Was that supercharger whine i heard in the first video?
The chase scene reminds me a little of Risky Business, wherein a Caddy is somehow able to keep up with a 928…for a while at least…
This is interesting marketing. If it is difficult for the new mini to “get away” from a big, lifted, beat-up 4×4, and the mini must resort to its size to get away rather than its speed and handling then we all need to look for a different car……
I also found it funny to see the mini drifting around the corners while the truck just plain turned…
My honda insight could have gotten away. 🙂
I think they should use the idea from The Simpsons where a “slight bend” caused all the SUV’s on the road to roll off to their flaming deaths…
kitsch at it’s finest. i love it!
BSSP certainly did their homework on 80’s action cop genre. Starsky, Magnum, Hasselhof, “K.I.T.T.”, <em>and</em> a fun infomercial all rolled into one? Classic!
Pity it’s not available in podcast format (hint hint, MINIUSA!)
irieman
Funny… zero 7 is also the name of an excellent downtempo electonica group also from the U.K. I guess great things come from there in droves…
Substituting a menacing Hummer or better yet an AMG Unimog might have intensified the drama of the chase. Moreover it would communicate the “little gulp” eco-friendly antithesis to gas guzzling SUVs that MINI represents.
The Geraldo-looking dude is “spooferific” attired in his Jockeys. Purveyors of men’s underwear could have derived some great ad exposure with a tight insert shot of a label when the MINI jockey fell on his ass!
The concept is very entertaining in a retro sorta way which is very appropriate for hyping MINI. The lightening bolts are also comic book cool for the ad but I wouldn’t want them on my car.
In the mean time I’ll be hanging on the cliff eager to see the next episodes.
I agree with the podcasts. At least let us download the episodes through the Owner’s Lounge (unless we’re going to see a DVD release, ala BMW’s “The Chase”).
I’m definitely liking this, but it was mentioned and I agree, the bad guy should be in a Hummer. If every MINI out there has an arch-nemisis, it is an H2.
Are these entertaining to anyone but us MINI FANATICS?
I doubt it.
Not quite up to level of the innovative advertising we saw in 2002…
Any way to download these vids? I am trying to get them from South Africa, and I get no further than half way and it crashes out…. Driving me nuts!!!!
GREAT STUFF. Says it all. This is and always was the funnest car in the world.
Yeah, is there any way to download these?
Or will they be available for purchase a la the BMW “The Hire” films?
really grewat idea but why does the 2007 Cooper S from the outside sound like tho old model with a supercharger?