Credit Karma: advert-body-2 by Funworks

Credit Karma is a company designed to take the stress out of applying for credit, and a new campaign by creative agency Funworks makes sure you know that, putting people into ridiculous situations to drive home the point.

Credit Karma, an online service that delivers credit scores, reports, insights and all of the info people need to take control of your credit, knows that people have a certain level of anxiety when applying for credit, and they want to up the likelihood of approval before people hit “apply.”

Shot by Hungry Man director Dave Laden, with VFX by The Mill, the ‘Know Your Odds’ campaign features long-shot scenarios that are equal parts relatable and absurd. Each video is decidedly tongue-in-cheek, using humor to quell well-worn consumer anxieties about credit and explain why Credit Karma is a friendly, simple but powerful partner in helping people be their best financial selves. In one spot, a married couple is seen in bed. As they look like they might take things to another level, really, they’re just upping the ante on their technological distractions, from cell phones to VR headsets and intrusive drones.

In another, a man taking hair-growth medication has some hilariously unintended consequences, and his comically long ear hair becomes a fashion statement. A third finds a middle aged man in a tie at the rim of a skate pool, honing in on teen territory. As he confidently gets ready to drop in with his scooter, he instead performs a splat of a faceplant. A fourth ad shows people at a potluck getting sick thanks to an ill-advised shrimp dish. When the culprit asks if people want seconds, the voice over says: “odds of getting asked for the recipe, not great. Odds of getting approved for a credit card, pretty great.” It’s that juxtaposition of comic tragedy and assured positivity that fuels the campaign.

Another spot involves an unfortunate reincarnation.