While the “Happy Chewbacca” video is the epitome of what happens when you give humans social media, it is spreading some good cheer throughout the world.
The clip was uploaded by a Texas woman named Candace Payne to Facebook on Friday. The video features the mother sitting in her car in a Kohl’s parking lot, raving over her newest Star Wars memorabilia purchase.
As she tells viewers to be patient while she struggles to open the box you can hear her instantly recognizable laugh. When she finally does get the box open, she reveals a Chewbacca mask that makes its trademark grunting noise whenever the jaw is activated. Chewbacca’s grunt combined with Payne’s laugh has equalled the newest viral hit of 2016.
According to The New York Times the video spawned a #HappyChewbacca theme on Twitter and even drew praise from the actor Peter Mayhew, who has played the 7-foot-plus Wookiee in the actual film.
Ms. Payne said the experience has brought “blessing upon blessing.” She has heard from people with anxiety or depression who thanked her for lifting their spirits and from the mother of an autistic girl who said her daughter laughed for the first time in months.
The department store that sold the mask, Kohl’s, seized on the video as a marketing opportunity, delivering a collection of “Star Wars” merchandise to the Payne family as well as $2,500 in gift cards.
Ms. Payne said she first watched the original 1977 “Star Wars” movie on her honeymoon 15 years ago. She said she appreciated Chewbacca’s ability to be expressive and emotional with minimal dialogue.
If you need a laugh today, this is guaranteed to give you one.
