Budweiser’s new Super Bowl commercial is a heartwarming peak into the stories of “typical Americans,” positioning negative American stereotypes with courageous and uplifting acts – the extraordinary moments in ordinary people’s lives.
Two of those people are from Arizona. Bernie and Mason Miller, a father and son from Peoria, made an emotional military homecoming video that went viral. Now, the clip of Mason surprising his dad at work after a year-long deployment in Afghanistan is featured in a national Budweiser ad.
The minute-long commercial features some of the most humbling acts of humanity juxtaposed with some of the most common labels placed on Americans. Hannah Gavios from New York debunks the stereotype of Americans “always being so competitive” as she triumphantly crosses the finish line of a marathon three years after a spinal cord injury left her paralyzed. Ken Nwadike Jr., from San Diego, California, makes a case for “thinking he can save the world” when he breaks the tension at a protest by hugging a police officer. Mason and Bernie prove that “showing up uninvited” isn’t always a bad thing.
Bernie, who was in a meeting at the time Mason came to surprise him, recalls his emotional reaction when he opened the door to see his son standing there. “I heard a knock on the door and I’m thinking, ‘They know not to interrupt me,’” he says. “At this point, I figure it must be something important. I just couldn’t hold back. I was so, so happy to see that he was back home safe. It was just overwhelming to me.”
Five years after the video was filmed, Budweiser reached out to the Millers and asked if they wanted to be a part of the Super Bowl spot.
“I never, ever thought that it would be some crazy thing,” Mason says. “It all happened so fast.”
Budweiser released a teaser video recording the reactions of the people who inspired the ad seeing it for the first time.
“It was very American,” Bernie says. “It makes me very proud of this country and the people that live in it.”
He thinks the commercial will resonate with audiences across the country.
“I think that they’ll really like the commercial because it tells us how Americans are and how everyday Americans can do little things to make their behavior heroic,” Bernie says.
Though the pair didn’t get an unlimited supply of beer for being in the commercial, Mason says there’s still time for Budweiser to deliver a few cases before the big game.
“We’d probably put them to good use,” he says.
Check out the commercial below:
