Jurassic Park did a remarkable thing when it was released over 20 years ago. OK, it accomplished a few remarkable things. Let’s focus on just one of them: The dino theme park gone very wrong film made a can of Barbasol shaving cream one of the most threatening objects in the world. We all recall the scene where Dodgson presents the ultimate in dinosaur DNA smuggling devices to Dennis Nedry:
Just like we remember the ominous scene of the can lying in the mud, a promise of big problems ahead.
Whether or not shaving cream plays a role in Jurassic World remains to be seen (I hope it doesn’t), but Universal has taken the exceptionally clever move of working with Barbasol to release cans of branded shaving cream in original and soothing aloe varieties. Nothing about a dinosaur with sharp teeth says soothing to me, but I’m a fan of a good tie-in. Why would you purchase a boring can of product when you can get Jurassic World shaving cream featuring art by Mark Englert? It’s not even a question. The marketing campaign is amusing and pretty genius.
Barbasol’s Jurassic World cans are available for a limited time only so if you spot them on shelves, grab a can or two. Barbasol is also giving away a vacation package for a dinosaur dig in Wyoming. There will probably not be actual dinosaurs.
Jurassic World is June 12. Who else is ready to see it immediately if not sooner?
