Super Bowl XXXVII: Break 3
"More of the Same" | Anger Management
Summary: Unlike the theatrical trailer, which actually explains the premise of the
movie, this spot, cut to "What the World Needs Now," gives more of the
same Sandler shtick that has made many moviegoers understandably nervous about buying their tickets. What might turn out to be a reasonably high-concept vehicle with the meek Sandler court-ordered to cohabitate with Jack Nicholson's wacky anger management therapist is being sold here with Sandler and Nicholson
in a series of pratfalls, fistfights and homophobic innuendo.
High Point: Sandler tackling a Buddhist monk — a joke so empty the
preview gives less than a second to it.
Will this commercial save our failing economy? No, in that the world right now
does not need love. It needs a better tax-cut bill, which, admittedly, would
make a sucky song.
"All A-lathered" | H&R Block
Summary: In a very meta move, Willie Nelson learns his accountant has bungled his
books and, to pay off an irate IRS, he decides to slum in a shaving cream commercial.
High Point: While walking around all a-lathered in a locker room during the commercial shoot, Nelson takes a break from flubbing his lines to complain: "My face is burnin'!"
Economic impact: If only there were enough shaving cream manufacturers for all to be able to pick up some scratch for shilling cosmetics. Because there aren't, it's safe to relegate this fantasy as wishful thinking applicable only to headband-wearing megastars. Those lucky duckies.
"Inverted" | Bud Light
Summary: Picking up where the innuendo of the Anger Management spot left off, a
parade-going clown in an inverted costume that makes his arms into legs
and otherwise turns him into a real butthead (zing!) walks into a bar and
orders a beer — but the dynamics of his costume make it appear that he's
imbibing his drink in a Le Petomanian fashion. Needless to say, the
implications of the inverted digestive tract are repulsive to the patrons, and
the barkeep won't sell him a hot dog.
High Point: The first few milliseconds, when you register that the guy actually has a
pretty cool costume.
Economic impact: Clearly a Swiftian satire that requires no further exegesis.
"No Fedoras" | "Veritas: The Quest"
Summary: Quick editing suggests this new ABC show is all about the action-packed lives of archaeologists — something only quick editing could possibly suggest. No whips and no fedoras on display … yet.
High Point: An ancient skull made of glowing plastic! Who knew that the
Atlanteans had discovered plastic?
Economic impact: A commercial about something that will feature more
commercials will create a feedback loop of wealth. Genius! Except, of course,
that no one will ever, ever watch this.
— Sean Weitner (sean@flakmag.com)
— Dan Norton)
— Andy Ross (apross@earthlink.net)
more ads! ›
