Advertisement Review: Best Super Bowl Commercials 2012 - feat: Vanessa Williams voice in naked M & M ad

Come one come all. Step right up and view the oddity that is advertising and the various creatures that participate. We have talking candies, bribing dogs, flying babies, and the sandman. Ads that will stop your heart, and ads that promise to start it again.

After sifting through and sorting out the 66 Super Bowl ads of 2012, these are the ones that stood out, that made a name for themselves, and that deserve to be shared and re-shared. They are the ads that make me want to be in advertising; they are the ads that 'kick start my heart'.

It may be because I am a weekly viewer of the hit series Desperate Housewives, but I could not be more pleased with the voice they chose for Mrs. M&M. Vanessa Williams's voice is sultry and sophisticated and offers up enough confidence to make a feminist proud.

M&M has always had a strong campaign when it comes to 'Red' and 'Yellow', but with the incorporation of the sassy 'Brown' this ad takes the cake.

This years M&M Super Bowl spot pleases both sexes equally.

Women: A strong, confident woman is portrayed through the character of 'Brown'. She pleases women in a number of ways. 1) Even though she appears 'naked', her style and attitude tell us that she is fashion forward and in charge. 2) She shuts a guy down instantly and without a flinch when he hints at the fact that she is anything less then superior. and 3) she has the attention of two beautiful woman. This M&M is everything the modern day woman wants to be.

Men: 'Red' is a fun, carefree, outgoing M&M. He is confident and looking for a good time. There is no hesitation when given the chance to 'get naked' for the party and he entertains all those watching. Shaking and wiggling and shaking some more, this M&M has what it takes to draw out a laugh be the life of the party. 'Brown' may not have been impressed, but the rest of us were.

Overall, this ad covered all of its bases. It pleased women, it entertained men, and it told us about a new product on the market without us feeling as if were were simply being sold to. The story was fun, the candy is delicious, and the script was suggestive. It also doesn't hurt that they used one of the most popular dance songs on the top 40 list. I'll wiggle if you wiggle.

Samsung took on the big guns.

iPhone is one of the leading phones on the market with over 44% of the market share in 2012, a 20% increase from 2011. Being a machead myself and a supporter of all things apple, the store lineup in front of the white billboards is not unfamiliar to me. You keep telling yourself that the phone will be worth it while secretly hoping that another phone with less problems, a shorter line, and an operating system that is just as inviting will fall from the sky so you can move on with your life.

Apparently, this dream is now a reality.

The ad draws us in with its familiarity of endless waiting; standing beside a crazy cat guy and feeling like there is no escape.
Suddenly, a light appears at the end of the tunnel (or to the side of it in this case). Could it be? A readily accessable phone that I can have right now and that meets all of my needs? I don't believe it!
Spark interest.
Cue popular song that everyone feels the need to sing along to and, at the very least, bounce their foot to. 'I believe in a thing called love' - translation: I believe this phone is for me.

It seems that singing, dancing, and over the top theatrics are the traps that are used in big budget advertising these days. Giving back with entertainment is paying off for companies who pay a little to get a little. And in this case it gave a lot.

This phone is fun and free and introduces a whole new level of interactive. Get a signature? Mark up a map? Video myself singing? All at the touch of a screen!

Canons and confetti, singing and dancing, skateboard tricks and fireworks. This ad has it all, and it knows it.

While watching this spot I had one negative comment in mind, but seconds before the ad was over they redeemed themselves. Crazy ad, product info, closing line: This closing line stated "Well that was over the top", and it was. And they recognized it. And they did it anyway. Not a cry for attention, not a try hard, but a pure act of entertainment.

This is a great concept and a great execution. Obviously their budget was huge, but they spent it wisely.

My favorite songs, movies, and ads are those that start slow and then have an outstanding climax. The delicate, 'boop'ing (not a technical term) of the Mr. Sandman song introduced the story in a clear and understandable fashion. We all know the story of the sandman and his magic dream dust, and this gave us a visual. But what happens if you get too much dust? Well.. Everything you have ever wanted to experience is crammed into one loud, energized, powerful dream that every man can probably only wish he got to enjoy.

While the woman is dreaming of a white knight on a white stallion riding through a beautiful meadow, her husband is powering around a race track, listening to Motley crew, and being waved down by one of the hottest girls I have ever seen in my life. And how is he experiencing all of these fantastic things? Well HIS white stallion of course. The new and improved Kia Optima - all the 'horse' power a man, and a woman, need.

Hell, I'd ditch my 'fairy tale' dream for that one any day!

All in a nights sleep.

This ad is unique and fresh - as fresh as you can get when dealing with death.

A short 30 second ad that made it to the top of every ones favorite list.
It is not every day that you witness CPR being done by a seat belt. I have always wondered why specs like 'zero to sixty in ___ seconds' were important in everyday cars; now I know. What if I am driving my boss somewhere and he goes into cardiac arrest? Well... I may just need to use my 348 horsepower engine, in combination with a fantastic breaking system, to start up his heart again. If i did not have the Genesis Coupe, I may be out of a job.

The message may not be realistic or strong, but the ad sure is. It brings about a different kind of thinking. Seeing everyday things in new ways is what I call Millennium thinking.

One for the guys.

This may not be a top seller and probably didn't make it onto the 'best' lists of anyone else, but I truly appreciate when I am given the opportunity to learn something from an ad; what better thing to learn about then the sport you are currently cheering for.

A time laps through history is a great way to educate and to spark interest. Things were done a lot differently back in the day and whether we do it better or worse now is up for debate. What isn't up for debate, however, is the passion for the game.

Ray Lewis, a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens and the last player remaining from the Ravens inaugural season, does the voiceover for the spot and talks about the rules and equipment changes throughout the years. This brings back culture and support to the game and reminds us that this Super Bowl is not just a one-off, it is a strongly supported, historical event that has been years in the making.

What is it telling us? We need to keep watching, keep supporting, and remain loyal to the sport while it grows and improves.

In order to understand this ad in its entirety you must first know a little bit about celebrities. It is known to most that Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno are two of the top car collectors in the world. With close to 200 cars between them, this duo has made a name for themselves in the luxury car industry.

With that being said:

I will be the first to admit, this ad is a little strange. It is a jumble of a variety of different subjects and activities. These are used to win the affection of the key holder for the first Acura NSX in hopes of bribing him to switch spots on the waiting list.

Coles Notes: Jerry Seinfeld's aliens, midgets, and zip-lines were no match to the Jet powered flyng suite of Jay Leno.

Random jabs and gift offerings make up this spot, all strange and awkward, and somehow it still made it onto my 'best' list. Why you ask? I am not entirely sure, I just found it entertaining and was happy that I, as a person who answers 'a red one' when asked what kind of car I drive, understood the reference that was being made. So I guess that is it. Make people feel smart and 'in the know' and you have them hooked.

How cute it is to be loved by... oh wait. Who loves who now?

Girl meets boy, boy loves girl, conflict arises, girl fights for true love - headbutts boy to get yogurt back.

That must be some decent yogurt if you are willing to headbutt the sexy John Stamos in the head to stop him from teasing you.

People like it because it is unexpected and our beloved 'Uncle Jessie' smiles in all of his glory. But what will they do next? I suppose they were content with a one-off for the Super Bowl but if they hope to make a voice for the product they will need to create a following, and a following only comes from a well executed and recognizable campaign. Is the question 'who will she headbutt next?' or will she get her love in other ways; a kick maybe?

Also, now that we are expecting it, will it be as good next time? And how many times will we watch this spot without getting annoyed and the headbutt is no longer funny?

Round of applause for this spot, questions remain for their next move.

Coca-Cola, Polar-Bear, HUT HUT.

Adorable polar bear tackle-football and crisp buttery cola. A careful toss to the receiver turns into a lip biting, eyebrow raising, edge sitting near-fumble as the bear clambers over left and right tackle and pushes through the entire defensive line... he stumbles, he spins, he falls and... TOUCHDOWN! A coke in hand is always a win.

I don't drink pop, and when I do I am a Pepsi drinker, but if I were to choose my pop based on the super bowl commercials of 2012, I would be a Coke drinker without giving it a second thought.

These bears tug at heart strings, they win our affection with their cuteness, and we attribute real feelings to them because of the genius advertising tool we call personification. They are like us and we love them.

We have all heard about the Toyota Camry, but have we ever stopped to think why?

The Camry is a people car, it is the car that people live their lives in and gives them the lives they live. It brings people together and takes them far away. It is a part of their stories and is the reason those stories are told.

This spot tells its own story. And we are listening.

Flying baby!

What more needs to be said.

This car appears to be a toy, mans new best friend. You can take it over jumps, take it on long journeys to the coolest places, and even take it sky diving with you.

This ad is not an ad that is selling a car, it is an ad that is selling a feeling. A feeling of freedom. It may not make it into the history books or even be remembered a week from now, but I thought that enough effort and passion went into it to earn it an honorable mention.

This ad doesn't have a deeper meaning or award winning copy, but it is fun. It is outgoing and different and shows us instead of tells us. It is fun. And we all need a little more fun in our lives.

I am going to start by admitting that I am biased. This is my dream car and I am a huge dog lover, so, naturally, this is my favorite ad.

This beautiful creature is fat. So fat, in fact, that he can't even get out the doggy door to do what dogs stereotypically to best - chase cars. So he works, and he works, and he swims, and he works. He ignores food on the floor and plays ball with himself on the stairs. He is determined and working towards his goal; and he is adorable.

Finally, he is fit, he is energized, and he is eager. The new 2012 Volkswagen passes by the front window and HE IS OFF. Off the couch, through the doggy door, between a split tree, and happily running beside the beetle.

And the ad could end there, if it did I would still be happy. But it doesn't, it goes one step further. It makes a conscious effort to pull the campaign together.

So there they are. The creatures of Star Wars watching the commercial in their bar. Special appearance by the Vader kid. And a classic campaign is made.

That's a wrap.

Do do, do-do-do do do.

Does this fall into the bro code in any way? Being man's best friend and all, I don't see the guy telling on his awesome Great Dane anyway, but the Doritos solidified the deal for sure.

The music set the scene in a happy but mysterious way. The camera angles did most of the work. Look at the tags, now at the poster, now back at the tags. Dog appears in front of man. Product shot. 'You didn't see NUTHIN'.
The concept is shocking but enticing. It draws you into the story and leaves your heart a little bit racy at the end. That 'cute dog' was not a cute dog. It was a con artist. And that cat is dead and buried. But it doesn't matter. The man has been bought off by a bag of Doritos, followed by another bag of Doritos. His wife will never know the true story, unless... Let's just hope for the dogs sake that Doritos keeps making chips.

This ad is funny in a subtle dark way and it gives the audience a feeling that they are not used to having while watching commercials. It is a strange sensation that doesn't pass immediately, in turn, leaving a lasting impression of the commercial in your mind, and heart.

This ad is a spot after my own heart. It is funny, clever, and has a rescue dog.

It is pretty obvious why it is so popular so I want to take this time to point out a few things that I did not like about it. Keep in mind that I am looking deeper into these ads then anyone should and I am also an animal activist, but these are the things I noticed.

1) That dog should have been praised more for his efforts.
2) The bottle is heavy for a 10lb dog and would have started to hurt his teeth, gums, and jaw after a few beers were carried.
3) Although it was good exercise for him I can imagine he would have gotten overwhelmed quickly and the stress would have been taxing.

Now that those points are off my chest let's move on.

Can we talk for a second about the completely random ending of this spot? I am referring, of course, to when Wego pushed a cooler that said 'help rescue dogs'. I am curious how effective that will be. I suppose it is the thought that counts, I just would have loved to be in the board room when somebody suggested they team up with dog rescuing to sell Budlight. Very random, but very much appreciated.

Overall this ad was a fantastic use of creativity and will most likely sell beer.

And there you have it. My ad reviews and critiques on this years best Super Bowl ads.

It has been said that there were no real ads that will leave a lasting impression but I believe, and hope, that the ads I have detailed above will prove that idea wrong. This year may have had some flops (which you can read about in my hub 'Ad review: Worst Super Bowl Commercials 2012') but it also had some gems, gems that are the reason I am in advertising and my inspiration for the future.