Entertainment

Hey remember in Return of the Jedi when Yoda peacefully becomes one with the Force but before he disappears he slowly chokes out that "there is ... *hack, cough* another ... *graaaaaaaak* Pitt"? Okay I might not have that exactly right, it's been a while since I've seen the movie, but the point here is that there IS, in fact, another Pitt. As in, Doug Pitt, brother of Brad.

Brad also has a sister, but Virgin Mobile Australia must have decided to zero in on the other male member of the Pitt siblings, because Doug is currently appearing as a celebrity endorser for Virgin's new ‘Fair Go Bro’ campaign.

Not that he's a celebrity, of course. In fact, that's the whole point of the ad, which is exactly why I find it so irritating.

I guess the idea behind using Doug Pitt -- a random guy who just so happens to be Brad Pitt's brother --  is to inform us that Virgin's plans are a super deal for everyone, even if you're a non-celebrity like Doug, who really really loves his printer/scanner/fax machine. And his pink shirts. And his minivan.

Here's a look at Doug in action:

His facial features are a little eerie, aren't they? It's like, you've seen him before, but you can't ... quite ... put your finger on where.

Unflattering khakis aside, I really like how good-natured Doug appears to be about the campaign. He looks like a nice enough guy with a perfectly normal life that most of us can relate to, which is why the ad's pitch kind of rubs me the wrong way.

Virgin's copy says things like, "While his brother lives the life of a Hollywood A-lister, Doug’s life is a little different," and "unlike his famous bro, Doug's never been the star of anything" -- and, okay, I GET it, Doug's not Brad, but by gently mocking his non-A-lister lifestyle aren't they mocking all of us, just a little?

I guess I just don't see what's so hilarious about a family guy who washes his own car and throws balls for his dog. I know we're supposed to contrast his lifestyle to Brad Pitt's, but, well, what can I say -- the joke falls flat for me. Especially since Virgin's message is that they're going to give everyone good service, even if they're just some everyday citizen who doesn't own a fleet of personal jets. OH THANK YOU GENEROUS TELCO CONGLOMERATE I AM SO GLAD I CAN PURCHASE YOUR SERVICES AT THE SAME PRICE YOU WOULD OFFER BRAD PITT.

Except for the part where no company would ever charge Brad Pitt anything, so whatever.

I admit it's possible I may have put too much thought into this cutesy little campaign, but come on, is it just me? Is Doug's dorky, lame, non-celebrity life funny to watch -- or does it look more than a little like a scene from your home? (Maybe without the pants, though.)

Image via YouTube