eTrade Bank Robbery Super Bowl XLI Commercial

This is a follow-up post to my best-of post, and I’d like to continue showcasing still more of the better and best spots of this year’s Super Bowl.

This first one, for eTrade, was pretty good. When it first came on I thought it was a movie trailer. It may not go down in history as one of the best ads ever, but it’s a pretty good departure from the Internet-bubble “that ad was hilarious but I have no idea what it was for” days. The subject matter has a lot to do with the service (banking fees / trading fees) and was a great attention-getter. Also the manager’s Adam Sandler scream of rage was a highlight of this spot.

Sierra Mist Beard Comb-Over Super Bowl XLI Commercial

After seeing this new commercial for Sierra Mist I feel the need to apologize for my previous comments, when I felt the humor content of the ads was not up to par with the awesome humor talent surplus they had acquired to appear in the spots. (Jim Gaffigan is one of the heaviest-hitting contemporary stand-up comedians).

This ad redeemed the campaign a little for me, though the surprise twist ending leaves more questions unanswered than answered. (Can’t wait for the two-part conclusion).

Netflix Land Invasion Super Bowl XLI Commercial

Netflix turned out a pretty amazing Super Bowl commercial, featuring a large land invasion of movie characters. It’s a great special effects showcase, and again, while not an “instant classic”, it’s still great work.

I especially like the small dog barking at the gnomes climbing the fence into his yard.

Chevy Man Dance Super Bowl XLI Commercial

This ad for Chevrolet is a great departure from the typical “show the car driving” or “show the dirty truck hauling a lot of weight” cookie-cutter commercial. It’s pretty funny, and has what women want: old nasty men taking it off.

Alas there was only so much room in my “best of the best” post, and the sensation Snickers man kiss edged out the hot man action in this spot. Still, it’s a very creative and unexpected spot.

Garmin Morphin’ Power Thingy Super Bowl XLI Commercial

And finally, I’d like to make a dark horse nomination, and put out this commercial by Garmin as one of the better spots of the Super Bowl.

It, more than anything else I’ve reviewed so far, qualifies as an “awful” commercial. It’s weird and corny, and for some reason uses the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers motif to get its message across.

What boosts its standing for me is the over-the-top metal score behind it. It reminded me very much of this music video by The Darkness (four minute YouTube video) featuring the lead singer fighting a giant squid and shooting lasers from his guitar on the set of an obviously cardboard spaceship.

Going way over board on the cheap and cheesy is sometimes a good gambit, and at the very least this was a refreshing change of pace from the other Super Bowl commercials.