Here is arguably the best of the best ads that aired on Super Bowl Sunday. I apologize in advance for the lack of dad commercials mentioned but it seems like the ad agency has that covered in full. So here’s to Doritos for not trying to shamefully pull at our heart strings.
“Snickers”: This offbeat commercial features tough guy Danny Trejo of the Machete series in a baffling Brady Bunch crossover. As is the tradition with the “eat a snickers” commercials, Trejo plays a jacked up-axe wielding version of Marsha, blubbering that “Peter hit me in the nose with a football”. The best part, however, is a sudden appearance from Steve Buscemi as Dan clad in a leather jacket and turtle neck combo.
“Skittles-Settle it”: Like with Snickers and Doritos, you can always expect some deranged plot twist to color a Skittles ad in 50 shades of crazy. It begins with two men with a southern twang bickering over the last lemon skittle. They decide to settle it the “usual way”. The rest of the ad is dedicated to odd pans and revealing shots, showing rather than telling the viewer just how the “usual way” goes. Everyone in town, from the kids, to the dogs, to an elderly woman, all have ripped right arms, bulging with veins. I don’t know whether to laugh or throw up in my mouth.
“Mophie-All-Powerless”: In a sea of nearly depressing ads this year, this Mophie commercial definitely takes a slice of the cake. Trees are bursting into flames, dogs are walking people, and tsunamis are popping up in Nebraska of all places. In general, the world is going to crap. The cause is not global warming, or some awful biblical apocalypse, but simply that the Lord Almighty has run out of juice on his phone. He’s just like us. The only thing that would have made this better was if Morgan Freeman had cameoed as God. What a waste.
“Coca-Cola-#MakeItHappy”: There was no shortage of commercials in this years’ Super Bowl that dared to pull on your heart strings. Instead of something fun or light hearted like their usual fare, Coca-Cola used its one minute time slot to bring cyberbullying to the viewership’s attention. The bubbly ad focuses on turning hurtful messages into words of encouragement. If it was aiming to hit me with a fresh batch of feels, mission accomplished.
“Bud Light-Real Life PacMan”: “If I gave you a Bud Light would you be up for whatever happens next?” says a random woman to an equally random trio of dudes. This is how this commercial begins. It could be easily panned over–just another gratuitous beer ad–but the opening line is inviting if not somewhat Saw-ish. Do you want to play a game? The guys accept her challenge and the night quickly evolves into something any kid who spent their time in an arcade would completely freak over. Why is human PacMan not a thing? Why are we not funding this?
“Budweiser-Lost Dog”: One of two lost puppy ads that actually made it to air on Super Bowl Sunday–the other belongs to an apologetic GoDaddy–this commercial, which has little to do with beer, centers on an adorable puppy who manages to get himself lost. His owner spends his time posting flyers around town, but it is his trusty stable full of horses that fends off a hungry wolf and brings the filthy pup home. Stab me in the heart why don’t you?
“Nationwide-Invisible Mindy”: I cannot express how much I love Mindy Kaling. If I was stuck on an island and could only watch one show for my stent there, it would be endless episodes of FOX’s The Mindy Project. She has tireless quirk and girlish charm, and this Nationwide ad uses that to its advantage. You know that age old question: what would you do if you were invisible for a day? Mindy spends it lounging in the park naked, nabbing other people’s food, and unsuccessfully trying to get Mark Wahlberg to kiss her.
“Clash of Clans-Liam Neeson”: What starts off as a forgettable commercial for one of those overdone gaming apps, picks up to the gruff baritone of the legendary Liam Neeson. He’s standing in the middle of what looks like a bakery, plotting his revenge. Just when you thought you had enough of Taken–I mean, aren’t we already on the fifth one–he pulls you back in with a breathy and threatening monologue. Of course, he has to pause to correct the barista who mispronounces his name “LIE-am”. I don’t know about you, but when I’m losing a game I always rage in Liam Neeson’s voice #justgirlythings
Zhana Johnson
Senior Features Editor