The Best, Worst 2009 Super Bowl Movie Commercials

CHICAGO – While Al Michaels and John Madden may have been talking about the incredible play of Santonio Holmes and Larry Fitzgerald in the 2009 Super Bowl, audiences around the world were bombarded with previews for big movies for the summer of 2009 by studios hoping that their films would be the real subject of post-game conversation.

A total of 11 major spots aired during the annual festivities including “Land of the Lost [8],” “G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra [16],” “Angels & Demons [17],” “Fast & Furious [18],” “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen [13],” “Up [14],” “Year One [15],” “Star Trek [12],” “Duplicity [4],” “[10]" and "Race to Witch Mountain [11]".

What did we learn from the movie commercials during last night's game? Besides the fact that nothing from your childhood is safe any more? (From "Land of the Lost" to "G.I. Joe," it's only a matter of time before the Hollywood machine works its way through every toy and TV show of your youth.) Which previews were the best and which were the worst? Let us offer our opinion. Watch the previews yourself and leave your own.

THE BEST

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”

Here’s the sign of a sequel preview that works - it gets even the people who didn’t like the first movie talking about it. Selling a sequel to a fans of the original is like shooting fish in a barrel, but the spot for the second “Transformers” movie created the biggest “whoa” ripple of any of Sunday night’s ads among viewers. With almost no dialogue, massive explosions, and effects that look more impressive than the first, “Revenge of the Fallen” scored a touchdown. There’s no doubt that what will probably be at least the loudest if not the biggest movie of the summer was a perfect fit for the most over-the-top TV event of the year.

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” was directed by Michael Bay [19] and stars Shia LaBeouf [20], Megan Fox [21], Rainn Wilson [22], John Turturro [23], Josh Duhamel [24], Isabel Lucas [25], and Tyrese Gibson [26]. It opens on June 26th, 2009.

“Land of the Lost”

It’s hard to tell with just 45 seconds, but the spot for “Land of the Lost” popped up, got people talking, and got out. The jury may still be deliberating if the movie will be any good but the blend of comedy and action has summer family hit written all over it. In a summer overrun with high-profile sequels, the spot for “Land of the Lost” did exactly what it needed to in under a minute - start building buzz.

“Land of the Lost” was directed by Brad Silberling and stars Will Ferrell [27], Danny McBride [28], Anna Friel [29], and Jorma Taccone [30]. It opens on June 5th, 2009.

“Duplicity”

Clive Owen [31] and Julia Roberts [32] in a spy/romantic comedy with tones of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”? Where do I sign up? Written and directed by the man behind “Michael Clayton,” the spot for “Duplicity” doesn’t give away too of the actual film but offers just enough of a taste to get audiences intrigued. This spot ran early in the game when a lot of people were still arriving at parties and filling out their squares, so it doesn’t have quite the same buzz the morning after, but it was still one of the best.

“Duplicity” was directed by Tony Gilroy [33] and stars Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson [34], and Paul Giamatti [35]. It opens on March 20th, 2009.

“Year One”

I might be a little blinded by this one. The actual spot is just so-so, but the idea of Michael Cera [36], Paul Rudd [37], David Cross [38], and Jack Black [39] sharing screen time has me as excited as any summer comedy. Considering Sunday night was packed with high-budget action movie commercials, it was refreshing to see something funny and low-key, changing speed from the predictable blockbuster ads that we were all expecting to see.

“Year One” was directed by Harold Ramis [40] and stars Jack Black, Michael Cera, Olivia Wilde [41], David Cross, Paul Rudd, Oliver Platt [42], Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Hank Azaria [43]. It opens on June 19th, 2009.

“Up”

I agree that this one doesn’t work as well as the early ads for “The Incredibles [44],” “Ratatouille [45],” or “WALL-E [46],” but Pixar has built up so much goodwill with their amazing streak of brilliance that a lot can be foprgiven. In fact, it’s clear that they’re aware of that, using clips from their last few movies to get audiences prepared for “Up.” I was hoping for more footage and something, a visual image or great line, to get people buzzing this morning. The spot is oddly forgettable. But I’m also pretty confident that this is just the beginning and we’ll see some great stuff soon. This was just a taste.

“Up” was directed by Pete Docter & Bob Peterson and features voice work from Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Ed Asner, and Delroy Lindo. It opens on May 29th, 2009.

THE WORST

“Fast & Furious”

Someone in the room actually thought this was a commercial for the 2001 version airing on NBC. By their very nature, sequels regularly ask movie goers to pay to see the same movie twice, but this one is ridiculous. It looks like nearly the exact same flick as the first one. If you’re into paying for the same movie again, the “Fast & Furious” spot probably worked for you, but it was the most creatively bankrupt movie commercial on display Sunday night.

“Fast & Furious” was directed by Justin Lin and stars Vin Diesel [47], Paul Walker [48], Michelle Rodriguez [49], and Jordana Brewster. It opens on April 3rd, 2009.

“Angels & Demons”

I know it was a massive hit but just thinking about “The Da Vinci Code” makes me sleepy. The book for “Angels & Demons” is actually pretty entertaining, but this spot just looks like more of the same from the team that made the first film so dull.

“Angels & Demons” was directed by Ron Howard [50] and stars Tom Hanks [51], Ayelet Zurer, Ewan McGregor [52], Stellan Skarsgard, and David Pasquesi. It opens on May 15th, 2009.

“G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra”

OMG. The early contender for this year’s “Mummy 3 [53]” or “Death Race [54]” - loud, stupid, and worthless - has to be “G.I. Joe,” a movie made all the more painful by the fond memories of the toy line that are being pillaged for this junk. The last time they let Stephen Sommers direct a summer movie, we got “Van Helsing”. How did anyone let him make another one?

“G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra” was directed by Stephen Sommers and stars Dennis Quaid [55], Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans, Sienna Miller [56], Joseph Gordon-Levitt [57], Said Taghmaoui, Christopher Eccleston, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. It opens on August 7th, 2009.

THE REST

“Monsters vs. Aliens”

The preview itself is great and the movie looks fun but the 3D glasses gimmick? It’s not only lame but I think they shot themselves in the foot. I’ve seen a good chunk of “Monsters vs. Aliens” in Real 3D and it looks amazing. But the main reason that it will work in theaters is the same reason that it didn’t work at home - you don’t have to use those lame paper glasses any more. The technology has been upgraded in theaters, but audiences who caught the spot at home are likely to think that it’s the same old junk that made “Jaws 3-D” so headache-inducing. The incredibly stupid Sobe commercial that followed didn’t help make this one any more memorable.

“Monsters vs. Aliens” was directed by Rob Letterman & Conrad Vernon and features voice work by Seth Rogen [58], Hugh Laurie [59], Paul Rudd, Kiefer Sutherland [60], Reese Witherspoon [61], Rainn Wilson, Will Arnett [62], and Stephen Colbert [63]. It opens on March 27th, 2009.

“Star Trek”

I’m clearly in the minority. The rest of the crowd that I was watching the game with thought this was a winner, so I’ll spot it in the middle. To me, “Star Trek” looks like a loud, Bruckheimer-esque special effects extravaganza, which doesn’t work for my impression of this franchise. If you think that “Star Trek” should look like a “Transformers” sequel than this one will work for you. For someone who grew up on Kirk and Picard, the change in tone and style has not yet clicked. I’m hoping that “Star Trek” rocks, but nothing I’ve seen so far has given me hope that it will.

“Star Trek” was directed by J.J. Abrams [64] and stars Chris Pine [65], Zachary Quinto [66], Eric Bana [67], Simon Pegg [68], Winona Ryder [69], Karl Urban [70], John Cho [71], Zoe Saldana [72], Bruce Greenwood, Ben Cross, and Anton Yelchin. It opens on May 8th, 2009.

“Race to Witch Mountain”

The artist formerly known as “The Rock” has found a reliable audience with action movies that appeal to the whole family, being a fun part of “Get Smart” and turning “The Game Plan” into a huge hit. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. “Witch Mountain” looks like more of the same. It’s not one of my most anticipated movies of the year but I think the spot worked for its intended audience and may have even intrigued a few people outside of Dwayne Johnson’s family demo.

“Race to Witch Mountain” was directed by Andy Fickman and stars Dwayne Johnson [73], Carla Gugino [74], AnnaSophia Robb, Christine Lakin, Cheech Marin, Tom Everett Scott, and Ciaran Hinds. It opens on March 13th, 2009.

[75]	By BRIAN TALLERICO [76] Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com [75]