Super Bowl Review

I am a big football fan, so usually the Super Bowl is one of my favorite events of the year. However, this year the game was not as exciting, as I did not have a rooting interest. Being an avid Dallas Cowboys fan, it was difficult for me to root for either the Giants or the Patriots. So, instead, I took my mother's approach to the Super Bowl and watched for the commercials!

Now, before discussing the commercials, I must concede that it was a great game. Even for someone who was not at all invested in the outcome, I was enthralled with the action of the game, especially in the last quarter. For a while it seemed that the Patriots had the game sewn up, which made the Giant comeback more compelling. That catch by Mario Manningham which led to the Giants score was simply incredible. The last two minutes were so intense, and I was on the edge of my seat, wondering if Tom Brady could pull off another miracle for the Patriots. Overall, the 21-17 Giant Super Bowl victory was entertaining and a well-played football game.

Super Bowl commercials are hyped almost as much as the game itself. There is a lot of pressure on these commercials to be entertaining, fun, and memorable, so as to attract the 100 million viewers and convince them to purchase the products being advertised. The companies have to pay millions of dollars for a 30-second commercial to air during the Super Bowl, so the ad better live up to the hype and pay off for the company!

Overall, I thought the commercials this year were very good, and there weren't many lemons. I enjoyed the commercials and thought many of them were entertaining. Here are a few of my favorites. My list is numbered, but these numbers aren't a ranking of the commercials, just a way to organize some of my top picks for Super Bowl ads.

1. Bridgestone

I like this commercial for several reasons. I like the concept of the commercial as a whole, it was a nice, cute demonstration of the Bridgestone tires. I like the idea of the "quiet basketball" as well, as the quiet is startling and attention grabbing. I also liked the use of recognizable faces in Steve Nash and Tim Duncan, making the basketball in the game more realistic and appealing. However, the real reason why I love this commercial is the sleeping baby. This child is just too cute! He is the star of the commercial and just so adorable!

2.  Volkswagen

A theme may be starting to form in the commercials that I chose as my favorites. Again, part of the reason I love this commercial is the cuteness factor. The dog is so cute, and as a dog lover, there was no way I could resist this gem! I also like the idea behind the commercial. The dog gets off the couch and starts working out, and by becoming more active is healthier and able to reach his goals in life. This commercial is not only entertaining but serves a good message. If people took the lead of the dog and got outside, got some exercise and just starting moving, we would all be healthier, happier, and better equipped to face the challenges in life. This commercial is a winner all the way around.

3. Skechers

Again, the cuteness factor makes this commercial great. The dog is just so adorable! The entire commercial is actually adorable and pulls at the heartstrings by portraying an underdog story (no pun intended). This little dog falls way behind in the race, but with his trusty Skechers, Mr. Quiqqly is able to win the race in style. This is a feel good, heartwarming commercial, and I thought it was a great use of advertising.

4. M&M's

This commercial was a great mix of fun and relevant. The use of popular music infused with the product was a great tool. The dancing M&M is really funny and helps contribute to the overall appeal of the commercial. The whole concept of the commercial is a winner and I give this ad two thumbs up!

5. The Voice

Now, there is really only one reason that I like this commercial and it can be summed up in two words: Betty White! The 90 year old actress is still as entertaining as ever. Everything she does turns to gold and this is no exception. While the rest of the commercial is okay, Betty White steals the scene and makes it great. Betty White has such comedic timing and she is just such a hoot! Start watching at around the 1:00 minute mark to see what I mean.

Not all of the commercials were great. This one in particular I thought was incredibly inappropriate.

6. Fiat

This commercial for Fiat is a very steamy ad. While there is nothing wrong with sex-appeal in advertising (it is used all of the time and sex sells), it was a little much for my liking. Furthermore, this commercial aired roughly between 8:30pm and 9:00pm. I'm not sure if it aired another time before this. Even if it didn't, children still could have been awake and watching the game at this time. If I were a parent, I would not want my young, impressionable child watching this. Overall, I didn't like this commercial and I think that Fiat could have done something different or less scandalous to sell their vehicle.

There is one last commercial I have to include. This was a wonderful commercial, and it would probably have to be classified my favorite. This advertisement isn't funny and (surprisingly) it does not include any cute animals or children, or any other advertising gimmicks. This commercial hits home, is real, and inspiring. The commercial I am referring to is the pep-talk given to America at half-time by Clint Eastwood and Chevrolet. Now, while this commercial is trying to sell cars, it also addresses some serious problems in our nation. It talks about how we are down and struggling, but encourages and inspires, stating that we can rise again in the second-half, and be stronger than we did before. This "game" is not over, and we can come out victorious. I really like the message and think it was a really well done add, appealing to American pride and talking about the state of the nation.

Any blog post about the Super Bowl would be remiss not to mention the halftime show. While it may be getting mixed reviews with critics and the general public, this fan LOVED it! Madonna was in her element and showed that even in her 50s, Madonna is still a pop star and an icon. The show had great graphics, dancing, special effects, and was truly a show worth watching. Now, being a full-fledged Madonna fan might make me a little biased in my assessment, but I thought it was incredible. Definitely the best half time show I've seen in several years. I think the proper way to end this post is with Madonna herself. Enjoy!