Toyota Cracks the Viral Video Code: Here’s Your Swagger Wagon

All marketers say they want viral videos. But few have any idea how to create one. Toyota has figured this one out, though, with a clip released this week promoting its Sienna Minivan. Remember when the idea of selling minivans on YouTube sounded nuts?

A few notes:

• Toyota has been doing variations on this theme all year, including a Super Bowl spot. You can see them all on the “Channel” page Toyota has set up on Google’s (GOOG) YouTube. But none of them have caught on like this clip.
• If director Jody Hill’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s one of the guys behind the excellent Eastbound & Down. If you haven’t seen it, you should. (Saatchi & Saatchi gets credit for the whole thing).
• So here’s the thing: I’m pretty sure I’m at the bull’s-eye center of the target demo for this one. And it makes me feel warm about Toyota (TM), unintended acceleration or no. But I’m still not buying a minivan. Yet.