Ben Stiller has launched Stiller’s Soda in his hometown of New York City. The beverage is low sugar, only 30 calories and all-natural. The debut collection features three beloved nostalgic Americana flavors – Root Beer, Lemon Lime, and Ben’s all-time favorite, Shirley Temple.
Stiller’s is filling a gap in the beverage category with a simple philosophy: classic soda for a new world. Moving away from traditional sodas heavy in sugar and artificial ingredients, and steering clear of the crowded prebiotic and probiotic market. Stiller’s delivers on the promise that each can is carefully crafted with all-natural ingredients that are low in sugar and calories, packed with essential vitamins including B12, C, and D, and a high volume of bubbles to create “The World’s Refreshing-est Soda.”
True to Stiller’s creative roots, the brand launch features a humor-driven campaign with him alongside fellow actor, friend, creative partner (they co-wrote Tropic Thunder) and Stiller’s Soda advisor Justin Theroux. The campaign parodies over the top ‘80s ads, featuring Stiller pitching the soda with help from a rambunctious whisper-voice, narrated by Theroux.
This spot introducing Stiller’s Soda was directed by Guy Shelmerdine of production house SMUGGLER. Comedian Stiller for the purposes of this piece plays a strait-laced spokesperson whose earnest product intro quickly unravels into a battle of wills. The retro-cool setup is repeatedly interrupted by a mysterious ASMR-tinged whisper voiced by Theroux that sabotages intentions with a dry, comedic wink.
Neon glows, slow-motion soda pours and logo close-ups nod to a bygone era while the interruptions inject mischievous, off-beat flair. Stiller’s clipped timing and mounting exasperation ground the absurdity, giving his lightly combative exchanges with the whisper the subtle rhythm of couple’s bickering. Playful yet edgy, the film blends nostalgia with a wry wit, using deadpan delivery, awkward pauses and escalating verbal chaos to push the format into stranger, irreverent territory.
Shelmerdine’s sharp pacing and narrative precision make the film equal parts timeless homage and unexpectedly surreal spoof. Familiar yet skewed, the result is a fizzy fever dream of vintage pop advertising reimagined with Stiller’s distinctive flavor.
