The Grinch and McDonald's team up to ruin Australia's Christmas spirit

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… or maybe not, if you’re a bit of a scrooge like Ad Nut. All the 'season to be jolly' business does not exactly fill this jaded nut with festive cheer.​

 

But for once, Ad Nut is not alone in feeling grinchy about the festive madness. There’s another creature out there who’s had quite enough of Australia’s summertime Christmas spirit, that mean, green mastermind of misery himself, the Grinch.

 

And to be fair, he’s got a point. Christmas in the middle of a sunburnt summer? Madness. As the Grinch snarks, “It’s supposed to snow at Christmas… why dis place so stupid?” 

 

So, in a beautifully unholy union, McDonald’s Australia and Wieden+Kennedy Sydney have summoned the Grinch to do what Ad Nut’s always dreamed of, ruin Christmas. Their new campaign, fronted by a playful, cinematic film titled 'I’m Ruinin’ It', flips McDonald’s iconic jingle, singing, "I’m ruinin’ it. ba–da–ba–ba–DUM" with palpable mischief.

 

In the film, the Grinch spies on the people of 'Australiaville', glowing with festive sun and smugness, before plotting to sabotage their seaside joy. Cue chaos, cackling, and a deliciously unseasonal adult meal that’s equal parts festive and spiteful. Each combo includes one of four collectible snow globes, with the Grinch, Birdie, Hamburglar, or Grimace trapped not in snow, but sand. Add a green frozen sour drink with popping pearls and you’ve got the perfect recipe for seasonal confusion.

 

The Grinch’s gleeful vandalism stretches far beyond the screen. Out-of-home placements drip in neon green, stamped with lines like 'It’s Grinch Boy Summer', 'Unhappy Holidays!' and 'Eat, Drink and Be Wary'. On social, the Grinch has seized McDonald’s Australia’s Instagram account, trolling followers with more of his snarky holiday commentary. Sixteen Macca’s stores across the country have even been given a makeover, with their arches now a suitably Grinchy shade of green.

 

 

“It’s Grinch Boy Summer and we couldn’t be more excited to share this meal with our customers,” says Amanda Nakad, McDonald’s Australia’s marketing director of menu and brand. “With a fun new campaign, limited-time menu drops, cheeky collectibles and a whole lot of holiday havoc, it’s the kind of chaos we’re absolutely here for.”

 

Ad Nut salutes this rebellion against red-and-gold tinsel tyranny. At long last, a Christmas that doesn’t make sense looks like it’s finally being taken seriously. Merry Grinchmas, Australia, may your summer be a little less merry and a lot more green.