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By Kevin Cahill ('23)
Every year, sports fans both nationwide and local look forward to the Super Bowl. What’s not to like about it? It’s exciting, fun to talk about, and the halftime show is always a blast. Without a doubt, one of the best things about it is the variety of commercials. Super Bowl commercials are almost always interesting, iconic, and most importantly, hilarious. As always, there are some that stand out, and this year is no exception. With that said, it’s time to rank the top ten Super Bowl commercials of 2021 with a combination of my thoughts and those of fellow North Rockland students.
This commercial is the first of the two commercials that Bud Light aired during the Superbowl. This 60-second ad introduces the new “Bud Light Legends'' program while also bringing together some well-known celebrities, such as Post Malone and Cedric the Entertainer, for a ton of laughs. “I liked the ‘party’s at my portal’ remark by Post Malone,” says Jesse Falek (‘23). “It was especially funny.” All in all, this commercial is a solid, even if it is overshadowed by Bud Light’s second commercial (which is later on the list).
Similar to last year’s “Can’t Touch This” commercial, Cheetos brings it home yet again with another ad inspired by a retro song, this time with Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me.” While I personally don’t think it is as memorable as last year’s ad, it still puts a clever spin on the song and brings many funny moments along the way. It only gets better as Ashton Kutcher tries to sing! Although it loses some points for a lack of originality, this commercial is still very lively and entertaining.
Unlike some of the other ads on this list, this commercial stands out for being fresh and original in every sense. Daveed Diggs is always a great person to see on screen, and the Sesame Street setting is a great addition. Yes, it’s a bit childish, but that’s a big part of what makes it work. Plus, it adds to the light-hearted feeling that you are supposed to get from these types of commercials.
This ad is everything that you would want out of a typical Super Bowl commercial: it’s comical, creative, and just enjoyable to watch. It also features several celebrities, like Tracy Morgan, Liza Koshy, and even Dave Bautista, who are all hysterical in their own way. Unfortunately, it also leaves you wondering what company made the commercial for most of the ad.
2020 was not the best year for many people. This commercial finds a way to take those bad experiences and symbolize them with raining lemons. “I liked when all the lemons first started raining down, and my favorite part was when the guy fell off his bike,” says Abey Alex (‘23). Yeah, the concept is as weird as it sounds, but the concept allows for a pretty funny and memorable commercial and it has one thing that most of the other ads don’t: an accurate but lighthearted analogy of otherwise serious events in real life.
M&M’S always makes great Super Bowl commercials and this one is no exception. This year’s ad goes from setting to setting pretty quickly. However, it manages to keep a grin on your face the whole time. With a fabulous string of jokes and a quick cameo by Daniel Levy at the end, this advertisement makes its mark among the top Super Bowl commercials.
As a relatively unknown company in the world of Super Bowl commercials, this advertisement could be called the “underdog of the list.” It combines the talents of John Travolta, Leslie David Baker, and Carl Weathers, all who have amazing chemistry with each other. “I thought Leslie David Baker’s reaction to getting hit with a golf ball was the funniest part,” claims Kristen Luzon (‘22), “and his annoyed expression when John Travolta is TikTok dancing on his grass reminded me of Stanley Hudson from The Office.” Scotts makes a very interesting commercial with a rather uninteresting topic—that is… lawn equipment, but above all odds, it works!
3. Frito Lay “‘Twas the Night Before Super Bowl”
3. Frito Lay “‘Twas the Night Before Super Bowl”
With a huge amount of Super Bowl legends from the past few years making an appearance in this commercial, such as Eli and Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, and Jerry Rice, it’s no doubt that this ad is as funny as it is. Adding to that, it is about 110 seconds long, making it one of the longest commercials this year and creating plenty of room for funny characters and laugh-out-loud moments.
2. State Farm “Drake from State Farm”
2. State Farm “Drake from State Farm”
There was plenty of debate about which commercial should take the #1 spot, but all in all, State Farm’s ad comes in a close second. This commercial probably has the most celebrity appearances in the smallest time frame, with Paul Rudd, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, and Drake all playing a part in the 30-second ad. “Paul Rudd dropping the football and the pun in Drake’s name are great examples of why these two are so funny and well-liked,” suggests Jack Cahill (‘22). So naturally, the ad allowed for a hysterical mix of jokes, imitations, and just funny moments in general.
1. General Motors “G.M. vs. Norway”
1. General Motors “G.M. vs. Norway”
The best Super Bowl commercial of 2021 has to be the General Motors “G.M. vs. Norway” ad, starring Will Ferrell. Will Ferrell is one of the funniest actors to this day, and bringing him in for this ad with Kenan Thompson and Awkwafina was a great call. “I liked Will Ferrell’s acting and comedy, and he made the commercial ten times better,” said Michael LaCour (‘23). As you would expect, comical exchanges take place as he travels to Norway to prove that the U.S. produces better electric cars. However, once he gets there, he not only realizes that the country is adorable, but he also realizes that he is in Sweden, not Norway. All of this builds up to make a hilarious, imaginative, and overall amazing commercial that you could watch over and over again.
Cover and banner courtesy of Paramount Plus
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