Bruno Mars has gone Hollywood for his latest music video. The future Super Bowl Halftime prince drafted Slumdog Millionaire actress Freida Pinto and longtime character actor Luis Guzmán to star in the official clip for “Gorilla,” the fourth single to emerge from Mars’ stellar sophomore album, last year’s Unorthodox Jukebox.
Co-directed by the pop crooner himself with the help of frequent collaborator Cameron Duddy, the cinematic visual casts Pinto as Isabella, an exotic dancer who has caught the ire of her scantily clad co-workers while earning attention from Bruno’s character, the frontman of the strip joint’s house band. Guzmán plays the club’s manager and announcer, and when he beckons Pinto’s Isabella onto the pole, sparks fly. No, seriously — sparks literally fly when she disrobes. Dollar bills also start to rain from the sky, a guitar is eventually set on fire, and, judging from the look on his face, it’s clear that Mars’ lothario has one thing on his mind. Cue kinda-gratuitious shots of him and Isabella making out and grinding in a steamy car.
If Mars’ “Treasure” video nodded to Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall with its throwback disco glitz, then the “Gorilla” short recalls the sorts of mini-movies MJ envisioned later in his career — just, you know, with more strippers. Watch the video, which premiered on Facebook (a la Jay Z and Justin Timberlake’s “Holy Grail”) by hitting the play button above.
