Fake, unfortunately. It’s a viral campaign to raise awareness for an upcoming vote. Explanatory link
[QUOTE=Google Translate]
In Chelyabinsk Luntik SpongeBob beat the bus driver to tell you about the elections on September 14
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At the beginning of the recording fights behind the scenes in a car that was driving in a minibus, there is a conversation about the upcoming elections in Chelyabinsk. Buddies who ride in the car, talk about the fact that elections will be held on September 14 the Governor and members of the district councils and it is necessary to vote. Observers conclude that the author of the video, which is nothing more than a viral advertising - spin doctors working in local elections.
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In the election for governor of the Chelyabinsk region in mid-September, involved four candidates. January 15, 2014, Mikhail Yurevich was dismissed from his post as governor of the Chelyabinsk region by President Vladimir Putin. Acting governor was appointed Boris Dubrovsky, who intends to participate in the upcoming elections with the support of the party “United Russia”. His opponents will be Konstantin Natsievsky of the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party of Pashin Vitaly and Vladimir Brizhanin (deputy chairman of the party “Russian Cities”).
[/QUOTE]
Shout out to HairBolus at Fark.com for the investigative work.
This is pretty standard viral marketing, and an ounce of skepticism will serve you well while navigating the internet.
Why would costumed characters be travelling and fighting with gloves, foot coverings and headdresses on? These items come off easily, and would be expensive to replace if damaged. Plus it’s nearly impossible to see well out of many mascot’s headdresses. Leaving one on during an unscripted street fight would be a recipe for disaster.
Two of the costumed characters struggle to keep their headdresses on during the fight, one scrambling to put an errant one back on. Not the sort of thing you’d normally be worried about during a no-holds-barred street fight.
OTOH, if it’s real, what’s the victim gonna do? Call the police? “HELP, Mickey Mouse and Spongebob Squarepants just beat me up!” They’d throw him in the drunk tank for admitting that.
But yeah, I’m guessing it’s a viral ad, esp. in light of the conversation’s topic. The actors sound natural, but good actors have no problem sounding natural. That’s what makes them good actors.
He wasn’t behind that long when the front driver was out & already approaching the rear vehicle. Lots of people would stay to gawk. However:
the vehicle on the left passes the vehicle in the middle lane, then pulls in front & hits his brakes. (I thought this was going to be one of those pull in front, slam on brakes, claim to be rear ended & then mug the guy when he gets out scams caught on tape.)
I’m not sure the two vehicles colided at all, even after rewatching the video.
the camera angle is pivoted where most are fixed in place with suction cup mounts. Why would they think to move it over unless they were in on something?
If you’ve ever worn a mascot costume, the heads are heavy, hot, & have limited visibility. I don’t see the four of them wearing their headpieces while driving early morning, yet they are out of the van, with them on w/in 10-12 seconds of the front driver approaching their vehicle. No way they spontaneously decided to get dressed, get out & kick his ass that quickly. Also, if you’re going to kick someone’s ass, you don’t do it where you’re using your hands to worry about your costume pieces while you have limited visibility.
Luntik (the grey one) kicks other driver with alternating feet, dancing style & then immediately stops to get his head when it falls off.
Or they are in the van going to a fancy dress event and one if them says “wouldn’t it be funny if we all put our heads on and beat this guy up in full costumes?”
I for one believe it happened. (I know. I’m being wishful). Hilarious if it did happen after a long night of drinking. Can anyone transcribe the Russian spoken by the car occupants???