Live-Action Wii Ads: Coming to a Theater Near You…in the U.K.

Imagine that you’re sitting in a dimly-lit theater, while the usual ads are playing on the screen as you wait for the film to start. Suddenly a woman bursts in and starts shouting over the audience, looking for her son, Steve, who is seated in a front row. The lights come on, and she makes her way to her son, to challenge him to a rematch at WiiTennis. They then begin playing the game right there in the theater on the big screen.

If you go to movies in the UK, don’t be surprised if you encounter this scene. It’s part of a new deal struck between Picturehouse cinemas and an ad agency representing Nintendo. The purpose of the campaign is to demonstrate how fun and easy to pick up the Wii can be. It also ties in to the ongoing “fun for the whole family” promotions Nintendo has been releasing.

As interesting as this idea is, it sounds like the sort of thing that would be more embarrassing to watch than for “Steve” to be involved in.