Directed by Robert Downey
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Criterion Eclipse)
Downey satirizes advertising, but also uses it to expose his other favorite topics: racism and politics. A black man is accidentally chosen to replace the deceased chairman of an advertising company. He renames the company "Truth and Soul", hires all-black employees and produces truthful, if tasteless, commercials, which are a huge success. When the money starts rolling in, he begins to compromise his principles, leading to conflict with some of his trusted advisers. The topics are somewhat dated today, but in many respects it's surprising how little has changed, especially in the world of advertising. Downey decided to overdub his own voice for the lead actor, who apparently could not remember his lines, which can be distracting at times.
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