INUVIK - The Tropicana commercial shot in Inuvik over several days in January made its TV debut last weekend, and not all residents are happy with the final product.

"It's embarrassing," said Molly McLeod, 17. "I don't like the way we're portrayed in it. It's like we're so out of touch and here's Tropicana coming to our town to save us and we have nothing to give in return."

Molly McLeod said she's insulted by the way Inuvik is portrayed in Tropicana's new commercial, currently being aired nationwide. - NNSL file photo

Residents got a sneak peek at the one-minute long commercial at the community centre last Thursday evening.

The commercial debuted nationally on Sunday just before the Olympic closing ceremonies on five TV networks, including TSN, CTV, Sportsnet, V and RDS.

Shot during the Jan. 8 Sunrise Festival weekend, the piece centres on a glowing 15,000-pound helium balloon that's meant to mimic the sun and hangs above Jim Koe Park.

To the mellow rhythm of Patrick Watson's Great Escape, the commercial moves from scene to scene, capturing a group of elementary students reacting wondrously to the balloon light through the classroom window, while another shows an elder gazing in awe up at the light. A snowmobiler is shown driving behind the school silhouetted by the balloon. Residents are shown accepting free bottles of Tropicana.

The final scene features a distant shot of the balloon-lit park, while these words appear on the screen: "On Jan. 8 we brought the sun to Inuvik. Because we believe brighter mornings make for brighter days."

McLeod took offence to that statement.

"We brought the sun to Inuvik? What's that supposed to mean?" she said. "I know it's a metaphor for the product. They could have picked a different one. First of all, we don't all stand around the sun staring at it."

McLeod, a Samuel Hearne Secondary School student, said she was angry the commercial didn't make an attempt to show something interesting about the residents.

"They could have showed performances of our Northern games," she said. "Instead they made us look so isolated and detached from normal society."

Jennifer Cockney appeared in the commercial holding her three-year-old daughter Anastazia while they both gaze up at the light. Her son Jeremy, 11, is seen in the classroom shot looking out the window.

Cockney said she as well as her family and friends are happy with the way the community is portrayed in the commercial, particularly the final shot showing the park in the distance.

While the commercial airs, she and her daughter will receive royalties from Tropicana. Jeremy will not.

Mayor Denny Rodgers said he was thrilled with the commercial.

"I thought it showed Inuvik in such a great light," he said. "You could tell the warmth that everyone has in Inuvik. It's great for us. I'm already getting calls from people who had lived in Inuvik before and loved it."

Anthony Bernhardt, 17, had a chance to watch the commercial as well and was impressed with what he saw.

"It was kind of cool, especially to see the big ball light up the way it did," he said.