Adweek’s Instant Reviews of the 2021 Super Bowl Ads: Second Half

VERIZON: Solid nod to the Gen Z/Fortnite crowd. We love Samuel L. Jackson and could listen to him narrate a Denny’s menu. Not the best, but we give it a hat tip.#BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/UqHLfk3g1F

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

UBER EATS: Straight-up awesome nostalgia with Mike Myers and Dana Carvey for Uber Eats, reprising their Wayne's World personas. Do these two age? Cardi B cameo is great. Look up the 2-plus-hour credits reel that thanks local restaurants. #BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/e8tK9q8zSl

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

T-MOBILE 2: Anthony Anderson and his mom!!!! Trash talking! Travis Kelce! Some fine entertainment from T-Mobile. #BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/MXZfDMmxPc

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

MICHELOB ULTRA: There's a good message in this and huge bonus points for bringing in A Tribe Called Quest. However, it feels like a Nike ad … but with beer?#BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/X1OaZvAQOG

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

ROCKET MORTGAGE 2: Another good one from Rocket Mortgage starring Tracy Morgan. Did you notice the nod to the brand’s Detroit HQ at the end? Nice touch.#BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/lGxWYJDVJo

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

P&G MICROBAN: Straightforward and simple, yet that's also kind of what makes it so predictable and boring.#BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/Cbo5q7aW7f

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

FIVERR: YO! The Philly accent in all its wonderful glory with the Four Seasons Landscaping owner. We had no idea where this was going when we saw the teaser, but that jawn was fantastic. #BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/zEFeqAD6rB

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

AMAZON STUDIOS – COMING 2 AMERICA: It's a movie trailer. But, IT DOESN'T MATTER! We can't WAIT for this film release.#BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/40c7qjske5

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

CHEETOS: Ashton and Mila are definitely a cute couple, but the off-key singing keeps this spot from being truly enjoyable. Shaggy has nothing to feel bad about, though. It wasn't him. #BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/aWPoS4Dzu6

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

WEATHERTECH 2: Another "Made in America" message from WeatherTech, reminding people that their manufacturing never left the country. A not-so-subtle political statement. Nothing to write home about. #BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/IBng0TuZ1a

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

SQUARESPACE: We'll always love Dolly Parton, but Squarespace falls short of the potential in bringing her to a Big Game ad. In a year when few of us are in an office and hustle culture feels downright toxic, this one misses the mark. #BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/jVbi0obqPO

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

CADILLAC: A lovely call back to Edward Scissorhands, complete with Winona. Every Tim Burton fan will like this spot—but will they remember it's for Cadillac?#BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/xLUiycpqL8

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

ANHEUSER-BUSCH: With the possible exception of being in an orchestra, there's at least one wonderfully relatable idea in this ad for the average viewer. Bonus points for the guy opening a bottle on the side of a metal table. Nice, real touch.#BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/FhK7vWKr9h

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

JEEP: We all expected a "message of unity" from marketers in the #SuperBowl, and Jeep takes the biggest swing with The Boss and an ode to "The Middle." Though artfully crafted, it just rings hollow. If anything can unite America, it's not a brand. #BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/9MGC5FCc0u

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

MICHELOB ULTRA ORGANIC SELTZER: Didn't expect that one to turn out the way it did. Brilliant premise with look-alikes and the very real Don Cheadle. We desperately want "Man, get off my boat" to stick. The Walken twist brought it all home. #BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/KX5ZsUFLxk

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

DISNEY BUNDLE: Your typical promo. Quick cuts, listing the Disney+ family. Joke's on you, though, Disney. We already have Disney+ and we've been paying for it since it launched. #BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/wssygqZRsf

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

KLARNA: More SNL alum goodness. A quartet of Maya Rudolphs is an outstanding choice. One of those ads that's really good as a :30, but we wish there was a :60 so we could get more Maya. #BigGameSummit pic.twitter.com/1CKtkRIMYH

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

BASS PRO/CABELAS: We'll give them a pass on using "these trying times," because while most brands try to sell us junk food or ways to binge away hours inside, Bass Pro / Cabelas focuses on a novel idea: getting out in the world. #BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/bXKfEzgSkb

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

ROBINHOOD: Ooooh boy. An ad with a faux inspirational message, cute dogs and a smattering of Gen Z joy and angst isn't gonna make that GameStop thing go away. Simply a mediocre ad. At best. #BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/v1v6PaaYAk

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

AMAZON: Sexually personifying your product is a risky move, especially in a family-friendly #SuperBowl environment, but Amazon and Lucky Generals strike a nice balance with their Alexa/Prime Video crossover spot starring Michael B. Jordan. #BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/o6jjOsGhSf

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021

GUARANTEED RATE: Good idea in the message, but execution falls flat. Oh, and the repetitive stock video? Eek. (For reference: https://t.co/zFbx05mZPI)#BigGameReviews pic.twitter.com/GLGElrvp49

— Adweek (@Adweek) February 8, 2021