A play on Dr. Seuss's 'Oh, the Places You'll Go!' accompanies this hopeful commercial for Not On The High Street—a name that sums up much of the country’s behaviour over the last year or so. As curtains are opened and slippers are shed, the cast reacquiant themselves with some old routines and a few new ones to boot.

One line ("There's a world outside and a world coming in") is particularly effective, as it appeals to those ready for adventure and those set on hosting friends and family again first. Coupled with director John Turner and DP Jack Wilkinson's warm photography, it's an another 60" step towards some kind of normality.

Directing duo Ben Mallaby and Rachel Stubbings aka BARBARA helm this amusing piece of work for shopping centre owners Landsec. What used to be a straightforward trip to the shops now requires vital equipment (face mask, hand gel, a two-metre barge pole) and discipline—the kind only battle-hardened mums can instill.

It’s a lovely, take-no-prisoners performance from mum, with the mobilisation to Braintree outlet village prompted by "seven rearranged weddings" (two on the same day) and dad's year-old tracksuit. A late wardrobe malfunction is also well executed, and caps off a tight 30" commercial that delivers a lighthearted nudge in the ribs of lapsed shoppers.

Even the most intrepid lone traveller will occasionally stumble out of their depth, and will be left feeling isolated and questioning their own thirst for adventure. What a comfort then to know that Expedia has your back.

This is a commercial which asks the viewer to rethink the brand it advertises… it is – at least according to this winning film – a virtual travel companion ready to step in when ever needed to enhance the experiences of someone in unfamiliar territory. It's a knowing exaggeration of what Expedia can really deliver, so the humour plays a vital role in acknowledging that we're not supposed to take this representation of the advertised service too seriously.

The film lets the proposition unfold at a gentle pace which gives the idea room to breathe, as well as providing them with an 'a-ha' moment as they recognise what's going on.

It's a really fun piece of work and seems certain to underline the sense that Expedia ought to be the first port of call for the adventurous traveller.

Now many of us have become accustomed to life indoors, the prospect of leaving quarantine looms large. Getting back to mates, dates, and meetings which don't take place through a screen can feel overwhelming, but this upbeat ad for Wrigley's Extra reckons a well-timed stick of gum can ease the way to normality.

The ad's joyful tone is very refreshing after the overwhelmingly grim covid-related content we've seen. The action unfolds in gleeful fashion, with a palpable sense of tension lifted as people rush from their homes without fear. If only it could be so in real life - there isn't even a mask in sight.

Director Nick Ball has done a fabulous job of capturing the abandon here, with charming incidental details adding relatable moments of humour (a woman emerging from her pizza-box burial is particularly good). Couples frolicking in public has a likely ring of truth, while a celebratory return to the office seems more optimistic.

Following a year in which thousands of Australians saw their homes damaged by extreme weather, insurers Suncorp have taken a scientific approach to limiting further destruction. Partnering with academics from James Cook University, among others, the brand have created a prototype home which offers insights into preventative architecture, safety measures, and similar innovations.

The results are spelled out in explosive fashion by this intriguing film from The Glue Society, in which the house is battered with torrential rain, hurricane winds, and a barrage of sparks to simulate 2020's devastating wildfires. It makes for a compelling watch—one which is both sobering and inspires hope for better protected homes in future.