Super Bowl Commercials 2015: Highlights and Final Reaction to Best Ads

A bizarre sideshow to the game, Super Bowl advertising has taken on a life of its own, one that finally began to adapt Sunday.

Commercials mostly shied away from the usual sophomoric and sexist humor, opting for sappy and sentimental instead. The strategy produced a mixed bag of results, with some tugging at the heart and others missing the mark.

Of course, a full scope of celebrities made their services available, because actors are somehow experts on insurance and mobile games. For the most part, they got the job done well enough, with dedicated performers delivering the best results.

Before we go back to viewing commercials as a hindrance worth avoiding at all costs, let's take a look at some of the Super Bowl's most memorable spots.

Famous People Use Things Too

Celebrity endorsements are the catalyst of big-game marketing. If that famous person on the TV screen uses this product, what is everyone else waiting for?

Luckily, most stars didn't mail in their screen time for easy paychecks. Even Kim Kardashian's T-Mobile ad offered a small glimpse of self-awareness. Desiring any more than that is too greedy.

Nationwide had an eventful night, to say the least. Turns out, football fans don't want to spend commercial breaks contemplating the mortality of their children. That troubling ad blocked out memories of Mindy Kaling's pleasant spot with Matt Damon.

The Mindy Project heroine spent the segment believing she was invisible, only for Damon to finally tell her otherwise. B.J. Novak, Kaling's former fake boyfriend on The Office, couldn't have sounded any less like Ryan Howard in his response.

Everyone is used to seeing beer, junk food and cars on display, but mobile apps arrived as a new Super Bowl player. While Game of War took the cheap "Look at Kate Upton" approach, Clash of Clans scared the snot out of everyone with Liam Neeson scowling at some silly game on his phone.

For those keeping score, Patton Oswalt declared a decisive victor:

Another amazing performance came from Bryan Cranston, who went full Walter White for Esurance. It has little to do with insurance, but Cranston treats the comedy spot with the same professionalism as a Breaking Bad scene, reminding everyone why he's the one who knocks.

From the perspective of someone who adored the show, seeing that character one more time is amazing. But Jason St. Angelo of the Huffington Post criticized the ad's failure to sell a coherent message.

"

According to the Esurance PR department, the brand had a rounded message in mind:

"The ad emphasizes that Esurance helps make sure you only pay for what's right for you, not someone 'sorta' like you."

Interesting. But does it? How many viewers actually came to that conclusion without being spoon-fed in a press release by some company flack? There's a slightly different message being conveyed here instead: Choose Esurance because customer service won't treat you like just another face in the crowd. Now look again at the press release. In the ad, where does anyone allude to price, marketplace competition or bloated insurance add-ons? The metaphor doesn't hold up.

"

Whatever. Who will actually purchase insurance at the encouragement of a fictional meth dealer? The bigger letdown was Aaron Paul's absence.

Promoting a Purpose

More than ever, companies realize consumers are jaded about having goods and services shoved down their throats. Rather than going through the motions with the lazy usual, they decided to use the year's most-viewed spectacle to spread positive messages.

In this weird world of ours, McDonald's is giving away food for hugs and Coca-Cola believes spilling soda on computers will halt all negativity on the Internet. Note to all readers: Do not attempt that. Your device will break before you finish this article.

"

That Coke commercial made me angry

— Eli Roth (@eliroth) February 2, 2015"

OK, maybe Coke has a valid point about everyone spreading too much cynicism. Sorry about that. 

This route didn't work for everyone, but nobody succeeded better than Always, which shattered stereotypes in its "Like a Girl" campaign.

A few tone-deaf people proved the necessity of such a message through their ignorance, but the commercial was largely met with positive responses. The Seattle Storm, winners of two WNBA championships, jumped on board:

Penn State head coach James Franklin offered his support with the help of his daughter:

WWE has a shaky reputation for its treatment of women, but the developmental NXT division has raised the bar for women's wrestling. It offered its own take on the theme:

Lauren Greenfield, director of the original "Like a Girl" commercial, explained the importance of instilling self-esteem in young girls, per Always' official site: "This project is a fantastic and vital opportunity to empower girls (and educate our audience) to always align the expression #LIKEAGIRL with the meaning of strength, confidence and empowerment."

The NFL had a horrible year isolating a demographic that represents 45 percent of its fanbase. In between grown men fighting one another for a trophy, at least someone did some good.