Everybody knows that the Super Bowl isn’t really anything to do with the actual American Football game – it’s all about the sassy half-time performance and the iconic adverts.
In case you didn’t stay up until the wee hours watching the game (we don’t blame you), we’ve rounded up the 10 best and worst of this year’s Super Bowl commercials.
The Best
10. No More – 60 Second
This PSA-produced advert made history this year as the first ever Super Bowl commercial to address domestic violence and sexual assault. It’s not funny, nothing cute happens and there are no fluffy puppies hiding around the corner. Released on January 26, 60 Second generated a tonne of media attentions last week. It’s already been viewed more than 5.5 million times on YouTube and has led to some important discussions about domestic abuse within the NFL.
9. Snickers – “The Brady Bunch”
Those digital wizards over at Snickers have figured out how to whizz us back to the pleasant suburban Brady Bunch home, where Marcia is whining that a football has ruined her nose for the big dance. Except that Marcia is played by axe-wielding Sons of Anarchy actor Danny Trejo, who growls “an eye for an eye” and slams his weapon into the coffee table. When Marcia’s chowed down on a Snicker’s she’s back to her usual lovely self and Jan delivers the famous “Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!” moment.
8. Turbo Tax – “Boston Tea Party”
Turbo Tax’s Boston Tea Party ad was a welcome break from the celebrities, slushy storylines and animals that dominated this year’s Super Bowl. The commercial looks at how colonial rebels might have acted if the British offered them free tax returns. However, this one’s proved controversial and got a mixed reception on social media.
Congrats on making a mockery of The Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution, dumb commercial…. F #SuperBowl
— Steven Frank (@SteveFrank_MD) February 1, 2015
7. Loctite Glue – “Positive Feelings”
German glue company Loctite made waves on Twitter by playing to the internet’s love of all things a little offbeat. Featuring a bunch of awkward types getting down to a dubstep track while some dude in oversized glasses raps over the top. It’s brilliant, but one has to question whether the Yanks are aware that bumbags, mom jeans and coloured sunglasses are considered quite cool in the UK come festival season.
6. Esurance commercial – “Say My Name”
Hey look it’s him from Breaking Bad! In case you were wondering what became of Walter White after the series ended, it looks like his new hobby is mooching around pharmacies. As you do. “Sorta Greg” gives a customer her “sorta description” and it’s sorta funny.
5. Always – “Like a Girl”
On a day renowned for celebrating masculinity and athleticism, it’s only healthy to throw a little feminism in there.
4. T-Mobile – #KimsDataStash
Queen of the internet Kim Kardashian West (she didn’t quite manage to break it with her naked bottom) talks about one of the most concerning First World Problems of today: unused mobile data that doesn’t roll on to the following month. Unused data which could enable customers to see Kim’s makeup, outfits, vacations and (once again, for extra emphasis) outfits. Is Kim K more likeable because she can poke fun at herself? Or do people still see her as a narcissistic nobody? We guess we’ll never know, because T-Mobile are deleting all of the YouTube video’s negative comments.
3. Budweiser – “Lost Dog”
You’ve probably already seen this one, as it popped up online four days before the Super Bowl actually happened. Just in case you’ve been living under a rock, the advert features a golden retriever puppy who gets lost and makes it most of the way home before he meets a creepy wolf. Luckily, his best pal the Clydesdale horse rescues the puppy and leads him back home. Fun Fact: According to Budweiser, if this advert doesn’t make you cry, it’s scientifically proven that you don’t have a soul (we just made that up but it’s probably true).
2. Bud Light – “Real Life Pac Man”
This advert is pretty cool, because who HASN’T fantasised about how amazing a game of real-life PacMan would be?! Sadly, no advertising budget can disguise the fact that Bud Light still tastes like stale fizzy water.
1. The Clash of Clans commercial with Liam Neeson
The Clash of Clans ad was EXACTLY what a Super Bowl commercial should be: a quick injection of humour in the midst of a ridiculously long, pretty dull game. Extra points go to whoever came up with the usernames “Bigbuffetboy85″ and “Angryneeson52″.
The Worst
5. Coke – “Big Game
Hey kids, you know that total asshole from school who keeps giving you hell on Facebook? Well, the perfect way to make all your problems go away is to dump a load of Coca-Cola all over the motherboard of whichever electronic device you’re using. No, you won’t be paying through the nose for the liquid damage to your MacBook Pro, you’ll be making the world a better place. Promise.
4. Nissan – “With Dad”
When you’re running an ad campaign that predominantly features scenes of dangerous driving, it’s probably best not to soundtrack it with a song (“Cat’s in the Cradle”) by a guy who tragically died in a car accident (Harry Chapin, who died in 1981).
@jemaswad @billboard We're proud to keep his memory alive. Yes, it's a sad loss of such a great talent.
— Nissan (@NissanUSA) February 2, 2015
Awkward.
3. McDonald’s – “Pay With Lovin’”
It’s a twee ad for a very cutesy concept, but one has to wonder why McDonalds can’t spare some “lovin’” for their livestock. Then again, who really cares about any needless suffering when there’s the possibility of getting a free Quarter Pounder with cheese between now and Valentine’s day, right?
2. Game of War commercial with Kate Upton
Kate Upton, world-renowned for her impressive talent of saying words and having boobs, doesn’t really look like she cares too much about a game aimed at teenage boys with medieval war fantasies. If you look closely enough (easy now) you can almost see the dollar signs in her eyes.
1. Jubila – “Tackle It”
Yes, that is a fungal toe wearing a football helmet. There’s nothing more to say.
Source: SNAPPA
