# How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989)

### reviewed by
Bryan Whitehead

[Note: the "Cartoon Laws" posted here recently were apparently taken in large part from "O'Donnell's Laws of Cartoon Motion" in the June 1980 issue of ESQUIRE magazine, a fact that the original poster didn't mention (and may not have known--these things tend to travel from person to person). -Moderator.]

                            HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING
                           A film review by Bryan Whitehead
                            Copyright 1989 Bryan Whitehead

    1989, Britain, Color, 90 mins.
    directed by Bruce Robinson
    starring Richard E. Grant
             Rachel Ward
             Richard Wilson

Contains some profanity, minor violence, minor gore, and brief, nonsuggestive nudity.

Overall rating.....3.5 on the 0-4 scale.

At the outset, let me confess that I'm in the process of starting postgraduate studies in Advertising, so perhaps this film is a little bit more poignant to me than to general audiences. Nonetheless, I feel that the wit of Mr. Robinson's latest effort are enough to make this film very attractive to anyone living in the ad-addicted 20th Century.

HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING is the tale of Bagley, an advertising whiz kid who is driven to distraction by his inability to come up with a slogan for pimple cream. As Bagley's derangement progresses, we learn that the true source of his anxiety is a deep-seated misgiving about the ethics of the entire advertising profession. The malady that arises causes no end of hilarious situations (forgive me if I'm too vague, but it's difficult to explicate the rich humor of the film without giving the plot away). All I'll say is that the title is a terrible pun.

Grant turns in an outstanding performance as the manically panicing Bagley. Ward does an acceptable job as his wife, and Wilson delightfully grates as Bagley's "old boy" boss. Technically, the film is fairly low-key. The special effects are good without being attention-drawing or technically outstanding. Camera/editing technique is standard fare. The pace is good (this one won't put anyone to sleep). The script is consistently witty, never slowing down for a second (it even features a brief poke at the Blake fans in the audience).

                                                      Bryan

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