WASHINGTON (CBSDC) - The Super Bowl is an all-inclusive family affair with something for everyone, and if it’s not the game, then it’s the commercials that captivate people’s attention.

One of the favorite cubicle pastimes the Monday following the Super Bowl is re-watching and reviewing the big game’s best commercials.

This year’s collection however hit rather lackluster, with many of the almost 70 advertisements being released days before online, sucking out the surprise factor with a silly straw.

All the typical tricks to appeal to viewers remained in 2012 – sex appeal, humor, young children, puppies, etc. Of the collection of advertisers willing to shell out $3.5 Million for 30 seconds of airtime, here were some of the clear cut winners who avoided the downswing in excitement:

The long running success of the M&M characters continued when one appeared in a club type setting and humorously proceeded to strip its shell.

Clint Eastwood stood tall for Chrysler in an inspiring moment in which he championed buying cars “imported from Detroit”, both stirring up emotion for the economy and renewing a sense of patriotism at the same time.

Overall, there were seemingly more duds this year, and perhaps much of that sentiment comes with the lack of surprise due to early release, but the fascination in paying attention to advertisements more than ever, this one time a year remains.

What were your favorite ads this year? Leave your comments at the bottom of the page.