Best Super Bowl Ads: How Do 2011 Commercials Compare To The Best Of Last Year?

Super Bowl XLV provided a tremendous game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers. The Packers ended up winning.

But as for the result of the commercials, we all won. There were plenty of laugh-inducing ads all the way through. There were humorous spots from the usual suspects, such as Bud Light and Doritos. But there some equally funny commercials from Audi and Teleflora.

But how do the 2010 ads stack up against last year's crop? Let's take a look at some of the best commercials from both seasons (according to USA Today's Super Bowl Ad Meter) and find out which Super Bowl's were better.

2011: 7. CarMax's Kid In a Candy Store

CarMax had a couple of good ads, but this one stood out above the rest.

The best part about this commercial is the hippie in a drum circle. That guy nailed it, just patting away at his drum while he talks. So did the wrestler in the folding chair company. His voice was perfect.

Then, after the commercial comes full circle, the CarMax customer has a great reaction.

2010: 7. Dodge Charger: Men Make Promises

If you are a guy who has lived with a woman who is a significant other, this commercial is so true it hurts.

"I will clean the sink after I shave."

"I will carry your lip balm. I will watch your vampire TV shows with you."

Surely, some of theses are more true for some people than they are for others. But they all strike a chord with men everywhere.

2011: 6. Budweiser's Wild West Tiny Dancer

Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" is just one of those contagious songs. It's like Billy Joel's "Piano Man" and Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'." If that song comes on while a group of people are having a good time after a couple of drinks, everybody starts singing.

It's an unstoppable urge that wells up deep in your soul and bursts out of you like it's your favorite song, and it's being sung live by that artist. In all reality, most songs like this are approaching annoying because we've heard them so many times.

But add a little alcohol and a good party, and it's a different story.

2010: 6. Megan Fox's Risque Motorola Photo

My friend was outraged when he found out that the third Transformers movie would be without Megan Fox. Hold up, buddy.

They've replaced her with Rosie Huntington-Whitely as the female counterpart to Shia LaBeouf. Huntington-Whitely is a Victoria's Secret model. We didn't lose a whole lot in that switch.

As for this commercial, the mom banging on her son's door and the face-slapping are the best parts. Well, and the parts involving Fox.

2011: 5. Pepsi Max Shows How Love Hurts

This one comes straight from the slapstick cue, but it's funny, nonetheless. Notice how so many Super Bowl commercials center around the "whipped guy" theme?

I guess it hits home with enough guys.

Eating the hamburger in the bathtub is classic—not that I've ever done it. But I do know the feeling of trying to do things on the down low that your wife/girlfriend would rather you not do.

2010: 5. Budweiser's Human Bridge

The bridge is out? Meh. Oh well. But there's a beer delivery truck—and more importantly, my beer supply—stranded on the other side? We must do something!

This commercial doesn't have much lasting value, but it was pretty hysterical the first time around. It was much better than anything Bud Light put out. I'm starting to wonder it they have completely different marketing teams.

If that's the case, Budweiser needs to start tutoring Bud Light on using ideas beyond the obvious.

2011: 4. Audi's Escape From Old Luxury

Any commercial that takes shots at high society and Kenny G is fine by me. From the crystal glasses to the ship in a bottle to the guy's name being Lancaster, this commercial gets it all right.

And the message is simple: you can be classy without being snobby.

I wonder if Kenny G realizes that he's a punchline? If he does, why would he have signed on for this?

2010: 4. Audi's Green Police Go Over The Top

The majority of this commercial is funny. The highlights include raiding a house over finding a battery in the trash, the hot tub chase scene and the announcement of a compost infraction.

But all of that pales in comparison to the kicker after the break.

The best part of the ad is when the Green Police attempt to arrest actual police officers for the use of Styrofoam cups.

2011: 3. Dorito's Brings Everything Back to Life

Doritos' ad competition is genius. For two years, Doritos has put out the best crop of commercials thanks to its creativity outsourcing.

Ever had to scramble to complete something last minute that you've forgotten about? Or course you have. I really wish that sprinkling Doritos on your problems would fix them.

Bonus points awarded for the ashes billowing off of the grandpa as Mikey pats his back.

2010: 3. E*TRADE Baby Webchatting With His Girlfriend

This is one of the best ad campaigns ever. Period. Every single baby ad that E*TRADE comes out with is great. Every single one them makes me laugh, from the first-class flight ad to the dog-riding one. "Apparently riding the dog like it's a small horse is frowned upon in this establishment!"

Having said that, it's time to hang this one up. The Super Bowl XLV efforts left something to be desired. It's better to go out on top than dip into mediocrity.

2011: 2. Career Builder Brings Back The Monkeys

I'm the first to admit that I'm a sucker for chimpanzees dressed in suits acting like humans. But this commercial should be funny to everyone with all of those monkeys filing out of the car.

Then, there's the fender bender and the next monkey using his sun roof to escape over the top of his victim.

It's simple and funny. Most companies need to realized that that is all it takes.

2010: 2. Doritos Kid Sets Things Straight With Mom's Boyfriend

That is 30 seconds of brilliance. That kid isn't messing around. He's got a future in organized crime if he wants it. 

Touch his Doritos? Slap! Touch his mama? Who knows.

The homemade Doritos commercials have yet to disappoint.

2011: 1. Bridgestone's Reply All Email

Oh man, that feeling of sending something to everyone that was meant for just one person is the worst. It's similar to texting about someone and then sending it to that person on accident.

Although racing around town, batting phones out of hands, diving from trees and destroying motherboards is extreme, it makes for an entertaining commercial.

That laugh at the end is priceless.

2010: 1. Snickers Puts Betty White on The Gridiron

This is the new standard when it comes to Super Bowl commercials. Betty White delivers her lines perfectly.

But why did Snickers feel the need to revisit this idea again? The did so successfully in between Super Bowls with Aretha Franklin and Liza Minnelli. But the latest installment with Roseanne and Richard Lewis was just a lame attempt to jump on the back of past success.

Conclusion: 2011 Uses Depth To Beat 2010

Super Bowl XLV's commercial's trump those of Super Bowl XLIV's on depth. 2010 brought us the Betty White Snickers commercial and the inaugural homemade Doritos commercials, but there wasn't much beyond that.

There were a dozen or more great commercials in 2011. This Teleflora ad was tough to keep off the list. So was the Bridgestone ad with the beaver and more.