Ben Stiller stars in Instacart’s comedic Super Bowl commercial. [Image Source: REALITYTEA]
Ben Stiller stars alongside singer Benson Boone in Instacart’s latest Super Bowl commercial, combining humor and nostalgia to promote the app’s new Preference Picker feature. The 30-second vintage-style ad, titled Bananas, premiered during this year’s Super Bowl, showcasing the actors as eccentric brothers and bandmates in a playful, retro Europop setting.
The commercial’s director, Spike Jonze, known for acclaimed films like Her and Being John Malkovich, brought his distinct vision to the project. Stiller, who has never worked with Jonze before despite knowing him for years, spoke about the creative collaboration.
Behind the Scenes: Creating the Retro-Inspired Spot
Stiller described the experience as a joyful dive into a very specific comedic world. He said,
“What was fun about it, to me, was committing to a very specific world and, comedically, it’s fun to jump into something like that,”
expressing how working with Jonze and Boone sparked his enthusiasm. He praised Jonze as
“one of our great American directors.”
Stiller further shared,
“I’ve known Spike for a long time, but we never worked together, and I knew that if Spike was doing it, he was going to dial it in a super specific way, and just committing to the ridiculousness of it and the physicality of it was really fun,”
adding, “I had a blast, dude.”
The Ad’s Storyline: A Quirky Europop Band and the New Instacart Feature
In the ad, Stiller and Boone portray Gary and John, brothers with exaggerated Europop band personas complete with ’80s-style mustaches. Their playful rivalry centers on Boone’s high falsetto and energetic presence, which humorously irks Stiller’s character. The duo performs a catchy jingle promoting Instacart’s Preference Picker, a new in-app tool allowing customers to specify their preferred fruit ripeness.
This tool aims to improve customers’ shopping experience by enabling real-time selection of items ranging from not ripe to ripe, helping prevent issues like receiving unripe bananas for recipes. Stiller noted the simplicity and appeal of the concept, saying,
Image of: Ben Stiller
“It’s like, when you go into a supermarket, you can go and squeeze the fruit, make sure it’s the one you like, so I thought that this was a cool idea,”
and praised the jingle as
“so catchy and so, so ridiculous … It was a simple idea.”
Capturing the Retro Vibe with Vintage Filming Techniques
The commercial’s authentic vintage atmosphere was enhanced by filming with tube cameras, similar to those used in classic variety shows. This choice amplified the retro disco energy, perfectly matching the comedic and musical style of the spot. Stiller’s character fits seamlessly within his established comedic repertoire, supported by Jonze’s precise direction and attention to detail.
Why This Super Bowl Ad Resonates and What’s Next
By combining humor, nostalgia, and a clear demonstration of Instacart’s new Preference Picker feature, this commercial stands out during the Super Bowl’s competitive ad showcase. Stiller’s comedic timing alongside Boone’s energetic performance, amplified by Jonze’s distinct style, makes the spot memorable for viewers and highlights Instacart’s focus on improving customer satisfaction. The success of this campaign could encourage continued creative collaborations that mix entertainment with practical app innovations in future marketing efforts.
