A Memphis commercial that appeals to people who want to see a movie and feel nostalgic about their grandparents, as well as those who want a little more adventure, has generated some buzz on social media.
“Memphis is a movie city.
But we are a movie town too,” the commercial, directed by Chris McCue, says in the commercial that is set to premiere Sunday at The Weinstein Company’s New Orleans premiere.
The commercial is part of the Memphis Film Festival, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
“It’s a bit of a cross between the trailer for ‘The Big Lebowski’ and ‘Lebowski’ — both movies about a group of misfits who meet in the movie theater to watch the newest movie,” said James McFarland, president and CEO of the New Orleans-based New Orleans Film Festival.
“The message is that it’s okay to have fun, but it’s also okay to be weird.”
McCue has directed the commercial for six years.
The video, which features clips from “Downton Abbey” and “Lebovian,” is shot in a Memphis suburb.
The ad also stars Zachary Quinto, the voice of a character in “Downtown Abbey,” as a young man named Dave, who is obsessed with a woman named Trudy.
The narrator says that if she wants to know what life is like for someone like Dave, she should check out the documentary, “Love on the Run.”
McCues original plan for the commercial was to have the movie be filmed in the city of Memphis, where the city has an aging population.
But McCue decided to film the commercial in a small city called Poydras, near the Memphis-Montrose International Airport.
McCue said he had already planned to shoot the commercial elsewhere, including in Austin, Texas, where he lives.
McCues movie is also set to be shot in Memphis’ former World Trade Center, a city McCue called a “toxic wasteland.”
The commercial will feature an animated version of the iconic movie “Dora the Explorer,” which McCue directed in 1993 and starring Tom Cruise, Susan Sarandon and Jennifer Aniston.
McCully, who has a history of making commercial appeals, also said he is “looking forward to the end of the year” to see how many people have seen the commercial.
“We are really looking forward to getting it out there and seeing how many are going to watch it,” McCue told NBC News.
“But we are all going for the finish line.”
The film will also feature a new, animated trailer for “Love On the Run,” which will be released to promote the film.
McCuys new commercial has received more than 11 million views on YouTube.
McCuse has also made a name for himself on social-media channels.
The director has been featured on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” which airs on Comedy Central.
In 2015, McCue was one of the first people to make a meme on Instagram that was a parody of “The Hunger Games.”
“Love is for love,” the image read.
McCults first movie, “Leyden,” was released in 2016.
It was based on the real-life case of a woman in her 20s who went missing in Mexico in the late 1980s.
The film grossed $50 million at the box office.
In a video that followed, McCulthans wife, Lisa McCue McFarley, said she had seen the movie and loved it.
“I saw it, and I’m so proud of it,” Lisa McCulley McFarly said in a video.
“He made it funny, but the story was real.
It touched people, and it made a difference in people’s lives.
He’s an inspiration to us.”
The Memphis Film Fest is also celebrating its 40th anniversary.
McCuer said he hopes the film will “reaffirm the importance of storytelling, storytelling with heart.”
McCuests latest film, “The Long Walk Home,” will also be released on VOD, with a release date of Feb. 21.
McCutts latest film was also filmed in Nashville, Tenn.
“Love” has also been released in New Zealand.
“Lemony Snicket’s The Magic Flute” opened in theaters in January 2018.