Coca-Cola ad draws many smiles, mixed reviews

CINCINNATI - A new online advertisement from Cola-Cola has become a YouTube hit while also drawing scrutiny from some who frown upon using emotional ploys to make a profit.

The video, titled "Coca Cola Security Cameras" on YouTube, shows a bird's-eye view of people around the world doing everything from kissing to saving others' lives. One person feeds a homeless man potato chips, and others simply hug their friends and family in affection.

At the end of the video, a man is shown purchasing a Coke from a vending machine and sharing it with a friend — at which point the message "Let's look at the world a little differently" comes across the screen, followed by the outline of a Coke bottle and the trademarked phrase "Open happiness."

The video is approaching 1.5 million views on YouTube after just four days on the website. Most people have reacted positively to the video, as indicated by "likes" and comments on the video's webpage, but others have indicated their thoughts that Coca-Cola is extorting random acts of kindness and love to make a profit.

And at least one web posting speculates that perhaps the video is not 100 percent authentic.

Either way, Coca-Cola has drawn additional attention to its already well-known product.

Watch the video below. (Note to mobile and tablet users: Open story in a web browser to view video.)