Last week, we were all tasked with tuning into the Superbowl commercials and picking our favorite one, and include a write-up of why we chose it. Some were chosen because they were funny and others because they tugged at the heartstrings. Read about each of our staff picks from the Superbowl commercials!
Kelly
Alexa’s Body
In the ad, a woman dreams of what it would be like if Alexa was personified as the very handsome Jordan, and she’s appropriately smitten with the AI. At one point, for example, the woman asks Alexa to dim the lights, and Jordan takes off his shirt in response. (Her partner then humorously rushes over to demand Alexa turn the lights back up.)
The ad is a fun twist on Super Bowl ads that use attractive women to sell something. (Some of Carl’s Jr. and GoDaddy’s infamous Super Bowl commercials come to mind.) It’s all made that much better by Jordan’s terrifying eyes, which are the unnatural glowy-blue you might recognize from the rings on an Amazon Echo device.
Jodie
Oatly, Wow No Cow Commercial
To be honest, I was half-listening to the Superbowl and its commercials throughout the whole evening. When the Oatly commercial came on it got me to stop what I was doing and look up at the tv. It felt like a breath of fresh air to the typical overly produced, celebrity-endorsed Super Bowl commercials. In a field sat Oatly’s CEO Toni Petersson singing a catchy and slightly annoying tune, “Wow No Cow”. I think it was just enough to strike curiosity and get their brand on a national stage. It was simple, effective, and authentic to the Oatly brand.
Sidne
2021 Toyota Big Game Commercial: Jessica Long’s Story
I love a feel-good commercial that grabs you right in the heart and while there were a couple of others that I loved and thought were funny, this one has really stuck with me. Honestly, I don’t know anything about Jessica Long or her story, but it encouraged me to go do my research about her. I am also a huge advocate for adoption. The love that her mom had for her, even before meeting her and knowing that she had a disability is incredibly moving. She didn’t expect someone “perfect” she just knew that it was going to be amazing “it might not be easy, but it’ll be amazing”
The creativity for this commercial was also on point. My eyes were glued to the tv every time that it came on.
Also, I personally own a Toyota, so it made me proud for them to be sponsoring Team USA.
Phil
GM – Will Farrell
I just thought they did a good job conveying the message for electric vehicles. I’m always in search of a good laugh during the Superbowl commercials. Humorous and silly cameos get me. GM updated their branding recently and it’s obviously shown in the commercial.
Michael
Reddit’s Bet Pays Off
Reddit’s ad was only five seconds long, but the text of the spot, posted by HuffPost senior editor Philip Lewis below, celebrated last month’s GameStop r/WallStreetBets pandemonium and hopes it will wrangle some new users for the site. “Powerful things happen when people rally around something they really care about,” the spot concludes. “And there’s a place for that. It’s called Reddit.”
Brittany
Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade
2020 was a lemon of a year, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Pelting people with lemons, I liked it.
Ethan
Doritos
Flat Matthew McConaughey for Doritos 3D. It was silly and fun. But also bizarre. I like that.
Jessica
Anheuser-Busch – Let’s Grab A Beer
Overall I thought advertisers did a good job this year with all things considered. There was a fine line between funny, emotional, and offensive. How do you create a message that accomplishes your goals and is ultimately memorable? A few main themes emerged – nostalgia, celebrity endorsements (typically paired with humor), and the social climate (pandemic, Black Lives Matter, and unity). Some focused on one theme while others hit on multiple such as Jeep’s spot with Bruce Springsteen: “The Middle.”
Just days before the big game, it was announced that Budweiser did not create one of their iconic Clydesdale commercials and made the decision to not run a spot at all. Those are ALWAYS my favorite; therefore, I was pretty disappointed. About halfway through the game, Anheuser-Busch’s overall brand spot, Let’s Grab a Beer, aired. P.S. This is the first-ever corporate Superbowl ad. Everything was right again in my world. It filled my Budweiser commercial void. I had every emotion possible throughout the 90-second spot and the most impressive part was that they highlighted individual “shitty” circumstances that EVERYONE could relate to! And in the end, it wasn’t about their brand and the beer, but being together and being there for one another. I guess I’m a sucker for a sappy ending!