TAG Heuer Unveils Its First Action-Comedy Starring Ryan Gosling
Tuesday - 25 April 2023
The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox watch “steals” the show in the Swiss brand’s first-ever action-comedy short film featuring Ryan Gosling to celebrate 60 years of the Carrera.
It’s a film within a film and at times it’s hard to decide between who the headliner act is – Ryan Gosling or the Carrera? For TAG Heuer’s 60th anniversary of the iconic Carrera watch, brand ambassador, Ryan Gosling and actress Vanessa Bayer feature in a world-first Hollywood action-comedy movie “The Chase For Carrera”. It sees Ryan Gosling run for his life (and almost give his life) to keep the Carrera watch he was filming a movie with on his wrist. All the while he is being chased by American actress, comedian and writer, Vanessa Bayer who starred in “I Love That For You” and “Saturday Night Live”. It is the first time TAG Heuer has ever done anything like this, yet it perfectly underscores the Swiss watchmaker’s motto “Don’t Crack Under Pressure”. Gosling, famous for his roles in “The Gray Man” and “Drive”, is also an ambassador for the brand and is seen sporting the latest deep blue TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox watch, which I covered in a little more detail here. In short, it’s a reimagining of the original design, with a tachymeter integrated into the flange to create a bezel-free concept with an additional side view of the movement via a boxed sapphire glass top.
The new Carrera movie was directed by David Leitch who is known for his work on blockbusters that include John Wick and Bullet Train. The realistic yet amusing film shows the shooting of a commercial for the watch where Gosling later refuses to take off the Carrera is he wearing and return it after completing the last scene of the film. Having asked for “one last spin around the dial”, he clicks down the pusher on the side of the polished case to demonstrate its stellar chronograph performance before swiftly taking off with the watch and enduring a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat race where he is relentlessly chased by Vanessa Bayer who plays the Prop Master. He flees the scene in what appears to be a vintage G-Series Porsche that shifts from a dark ruby red to a vibrant red colour depending on the lighting. What makes the short movie even more interesting is the fact that it was shot whilst Gosling was working with Leitch during the filming of “The Fall Guy” in Australia.
A brief history of the Carrera
The Carrera has always been known for its sporty character and clean lines, yet its history adds even more appeal to its design. It was first created in 1963 by Jack Heuer himself having taken inspiration from a deadly motorsport race in Mexico. Born through a desire for simplicity, the Carrera was conceptualised in a period where chronographs were often designed for military circles and featured a cluttered layout. The design of the Carrera was different. It incorporated divisions into its outer crystal ring, maximising space on the dial itself and rendering the bezel redundant. Its design overall was inspired by the Carrera Panamericana race – a notorious and highly challenging race during the 1950s that, due to fatalities on the racetrack, was short-lived in the motor sporting world. The success of the Carrera watch continued, however, and its name was later adopted by Porsche, further cementing the brand’s ties between timekeeping and motorsport. After Jack Heuer’s departure from the company and a fifteen-year hiatus, the Carrera was reinvented once more in a slew of bold and eye-catching colours where is still serves as a cornerstone to the company’s extensive catalogue of quality wristwatches today.
Alongside the Carrera Chronograph Glassbox design taking centre stage on the wrist of Gosling throughout the short action-comedy, there are several other nods to the Carrera throughout. For example, the opening scene of the film sees a lady about to enter a room in an Art Deco hotel wearing the distinctive white sunglasses of the legendary Jacqueline Evans de López, who was the first woman to compete in the Panamericana race. The trailblazer did so for five consecutive years, driving a Porsche. Bayer is also wearing the new bright pink version of the Carrera 36mm on her wrist. In the film “The Fall Guy” Rosling will also sport a Carrera – the sportier black and silver reverse panda version of the new Glassbox design. In what is not the first and certainly not the last the short movie exemplifies Gosling’s love for the Carrera (both in his personal life and onscreen), especially since he sports the TAG Heuer Carrera Three Hands watch on his wrist in last year’s blockbuster film, The Gray Man.
You can explore the TAG Heuer Carrera range here online at Jura Watches or call and speak to a member of our sales team on 01335 453453 for more information on any one model.
