Written by: Chuck at 1:51 pm
Filed under: Movies
I have been watching various forms of racing since I was a child. I have fond memories of my father and his friends screaming at the television for their favorite racers to, “Get a move on” or chanting, “Go, go, go.” Racing days were often my favorite because I got to collect the beer cans and keep the deposit. As any racing fan knows, I made quite a bit of money in my small childhood mind. I loved watching guys like the Andretti’s win races. I still watch racing today, but a lot has changed since the days of Deep South racing traditions and even more recently, Dale Earnhardt’s legacy.
NASCAR still has its southern backing. Fans still enjoy drinking, tailgating, and screaming for their favorite racer. So, little has changed in that regard. We miss Earnhardt, but today we have his son to root for. The main thing that has caused what change has occurred has to do with the California influence of Mr. Jeff Gordon. People like Gordon, whether they are NASCAR fans or not, and it is this appreciation for Gordon that has moved racing into a new phase of its life.
The title, 24×24 has special significance in why the numbers were chosen. The first 24 deals with past and present news of Gordon’s racing career. In this part of the documentary you will see everything that there is to tell about Gordon’s career. You see him as a child, on the track, and training to become a racing legend. In the second 24, you have a chance to go through the motions with Gordon on one of his typical days when he is not racing. This footage gives you a chance to see Gordon doing average, every day things. He attends meetings, signs autographs, participates in photo opportunities, goes fishing, and attends a Christmas Party.
As you go through the documentary it begins to seem like you’re watching a Roast. There are sports legends, media members, and even Patrick Dempsey (that McDreamy Guy on Grey’s Anatomy) sprinkled in throughout the DVD. They are shown in clips where they praise Gordon and all his many accomplishments. Many of them also speak of what Gordon has done for racing and NASCAR as a whole. Assuming that people watching this DVD are already Jeff Gordon fans (I cannot see why a non-fan would buy this) this back-patting seems a bit unnecessary. You don’t need to sell Gordon to people that already like him.
The problem with this DVD and it’s something that truly bothers me, is that it is nothing more than a cheap marketing ploy to sell something. Whether Gordon approves or just goes through with obligation is unknown, but he allows his name to be used in this marketing, and his image to be used to craft this 81 minute Jeff Gordon sales brochure, of sorts.
24×24 comes courtesy of Pepsi Entertainment. Think hard and do not go to IMDB. Now tell me the last movie you saw that was made by Pepsi Entertainment. Keep thinking. Have you thought of anything yet? I didn’t think so. For those of you that do not understand my issue with this, let me explain. Pepsi is one of Gordon’s major sponsors. In fact, Pepsi, DuPont, and Nicorette are the three big funding sources for Gordon. Having said that, it seems slightly fishy to me that Pepsi suddenly has an entertainment division, and they just happen to do movies that just happen to be about one of their NASCAR boys.
The result of the movie is a flashy, Gordon inspired sponsor reel. The media and celebrity praise is placed in to make their good ol’ Pepsi boy seem like a superstar. Considering fans are buying this I find it rather cheap that they went to this level. The entire product is one that is suited for someone that doesn’t truly want to know anything about Gordon. In fact, it kind of reminds me of the promotional videos they show during sports rain delays.
Being a racing fan, I am trying to be positive here, but was it really necessary to have Gordon drinking Pepsi in this film? Furthermore, did we need to see the pitch for the new Pepsi, Jeff Gordon 24 beverage? Maybe I am being harsh because I am not a Pepsi fan, but this film makes me consider not being a Jeff Gordon fan either. Alright I admit it; I was always partial to Stewart and Earnhardt Jr. anyway.
It is upsetting because in the time frame where we are supposed to learn about Gordon when he is not racing, all we tend to see is Gordon with his sponsors. The segments that are not racing related are few and far between. The segments that are non-racing related tend to be so short. It’s like Pepsi is trying to trick you into thinking that you’re getting something of value when really it’s one long Jeff Gordon commercial. It’s no wonder I drink Coke.
For example, Gordon explains that he likes keeping his private life private. I can completely respect that, but if that is the case why invite someone into your life with promises of showing them something that you obviously have no intention of letting them see. Gordon mentions plenty of things that he does or likes to do, but in the documentary you see little, if any of those things. It’s too bad he didn’t say, “I like drinking Pepsi” because he sure does that in the film.
The big non-racing scenes come with Gordon on or in the water. You get to see him fishing more than once and diving in a shark cage. Sure, these segments are decent in quality, but they don’t exactly paint a firm portrait of the man behind the wheel. I also found it bothersome that many of the non-sponsor related segments became deleted scenes in the special features section.
Beyond the deleted scenes there is also a behind the scenes look that features boring outtakes. You are left with a DVD that is high in audio and video quality, but lacking in content. This isn’t good for a documentary that the average fan will want to see in an attempt to know more about Jeff Gordon. Not only that, but the constant Pepsi influence just felt outlandish. It was entirely unnecessary and obvious.
In the end, there isn’t much to be proud of here. If you’re looking for a good marketing plan or a power of Pepsi presentation, 24×24 has something to offer you that you will love. If you love Gordon on the track and with a Pepsi in hand, you might like this, as well. However, if you are looking for real substance and a documentary that gives you Jeff Gordon and not a Pepsified racing drone then you won’t like this movie.
If you’re going to watch it, rent it first. Even though it’s likely only a few dollars for sale it would still be a better option so that if you find you don’t like it you won’t be stuck with it any longer than necessary.
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Technorati Tags: Jeff Gordon, Pepsi, Entertainment, DVD Review, 24×24, Wide Open, NASCAR, Racing, California
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Written by Chuck - Visit Website
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I am a Southerner, proud and true. At 37 years old, I've learned enough of life's lessons to know that nothing is as it seems in the beginning. I live in South Carolina with my dog, Big Blue and my son, Hunter. I enjoy watching NASCAR, writing short stories, riding on my ATV, and a drinking a cold beer with friends in front of the television.
[...] I have been watching various forms of racing since I was a child. I have fond memories of my father and his friends screaming at the television for their favorite racers to, “Get a move on” or chanting, “Go, go, go.” Racing days were often my favorite because I got to collect the beer cans and keep the deposit. As any racing fan knows, I made quite a bit of money in my small childhood mind. I loved watching guys like the Andretti’s win races. I still watch racing today, but a lot has changed since the days of Deep South racing traditions and even more recently, Dale Earnhardt’s legacy. NASCAR still has its southern backing. Fans still enjoy drinking, tailgating, and screaming for their favorite racer. So, little has changed in that regard. We miss Earnhardt, but today we have his son to root for. The main thing that has caused what change has occurred has to do with the California influence of Mr. Jeff Gordon. People like Gordon, whether they are NASCAR fans or not, and it is this appreciation for Gordon that has moved racing into a new phase of its life. (more…) [...]