For 364 days a year, we avoid commercials like an obnoxious relative. We make fridge runs while they’re on. We use our remotes to skip past them. Then, when the Super Bowl arrives, game’s off. Suddenly we’re gazing upon them with rapt attention.

Sunday was no exception, even if the ads, which carried a price tag of up to $3 million, were eclipsed this year by the game for entertainment value. Let’s go to the highlight reel:

Best use of the force: Even Yoda probably got a kick out of Volkswagen’s brilliant spot featuring a kid decked out in Darth Vader gear. This instant classic was a winning blend of humor and nostalgia, and our pint-size star was able to convey loads of personality without ever showing his face. Love it, we did.

Best prelude to a high-tech brawl: Motorola picked a fight with Apple in the form of an ad inspired by the company’s iconic 1984 “Big Brother.” Hyping the Xoom tablet as a worthy challenger to the iPad, Motorola took on the role of an underdog trying to break the alleged conformity of the Apple world.

The spot never mentioned Apple by name and would have benefitted from more emotional oomph.

Unsportsmanlike conduct: We’re sorry, HomeAway.com, but smashing a baby’s face up against a window is just creepy — even if it’s a rubber “test baby.”

Best tasty treat: Who knew Doritos dust was a drug? Yes, it’s so addictive, some crazy guy licks it off a co-worker’s hand. The ad pushes the “ew” factor, but it works because it also sensationalizes the oh-so-cheesy goodness of the product.

Most epic production: A lot of spots go for the funny bone, but the Kia Optima went for the wow factor in a spot that featured, among other things, a giant sea creature and alien spacecraft. It felt more like a movie than a commercial. Bravo.

Unnecessary roughness: We’re flagging Pepsi Max for excessive violence. In one spot, a woman got bonked on the noggin with a can, and in another, a guy takes one to his family jewels. What, were these ads penned by 12-year-old boys?

Best use of a dragon: Coca-Cola scored points with a lavish spot in which an animated dragon changed his evil ways after guzzling a Coke. It had us wanting to do an end-zone dance. Coke scored again with a similarly-themed spot that had opposing border guards sharing a bottle.

Worst use of primates: Usually, you can’t go wrong by stocking your commercials with chimps. But CareerBuilder has gone to this well too many times. Still, chimps in suits? Driving a car? … OK, it made us smile.

Best use of star power: Eminem did double duty, appearing in animated form for Brisk Iced Tea and uttering the word “damn” (Is that a first for a Super Bowl commercial?). He then appeared in traditional fleshy form for a Chrysler ad that also served as a booster shot for the city of Detroit. The second ad won, hands down.

Worst use of a cowboy: For years, Budweiser ruled the Super Bowl ad bowl, but the company’s spots lacked that certain pizazz this time around. One had a cranky cowboy ready to shoot up a bar — until he got a Bud. Then he started singing “Tiny Dancer.” If you’ve seen the movie “Almost Famous,” you probably loved it. If not, it made little sense.

To friend, or not to friend: Social media was big this year, and the Chevy Cruz touted its ability to allow drivers to check their Facebook status while behind the wheel. It sounded cool at first (A guy gets good news about a first date). But, on second thought, what if the news was bad? Would he run off the road?

Best use of TV heroes: The NFL gets a big thumbs up for its spot featuring characters from some of America’s most beloved TV classics, including “Happy Days,” “Seinfeld,” and “The Brady Bunch” (Marsha gets plunked with a football!) prepping for their Super Bowl parties. Not only did it celebrate NFL fans, but it underscored the Super Bowl’s status as one of the last TV events that brings the nation’s families together.

Most tired campaign: We’re tempted to go with E-Trade and its talking babies, maybe because they scare us. But the trophy belongs to GoDaddy.com, which continues to sell sex and do it badly. This time, we had Danica Patrick and Jillian Michaels shedding their clothes. Clearly, they’re not aiming for PBS viewers.

Most tired ad concept: Snickers loses yardage for basically trying a slapstick gag similar to its popular commercial with Betty White. This time it was Roseanne Barr getting pummeled. Betty was much funnier.