I think you truly have to wonder what the world is coming to when a comedy about a stuffed bear that comes to life and swears a lot makes over $500 million at the worldwide box office. That being said, Ted, both the first movie and the first live-action anything directed by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, ends up being far more entertaining than I would have imagined.
It begins in 1985 when, aided by some hilarious narration by Patrick Stewart, we meet 8-year-old John Bennett, who for Christmas gets a teddy bear, which he miraculously wishes to life and which subsequently becomes a national sensation. Nearly thirty years later, Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) and the bear remain friends, somewhat to the chagrin of Wahlberg’s hot but patient girlfriend (Mila Kunis).
The film feels a lot like an extended episode of Family Guy, with amusing pop culture references, an extended (and awesome) homage to a beloved ‘80s property, racial jokes, weight jokes and celebrities (Norah Jones, Tom Skerritt) playing themselves. MacFarlane’s voicing of Ted, which sounds pretty close to the voice he uses for Guy’s Peter Griffin, and the appearances of Kunis, Alex Borstein and Patrick Warburton, who also voice characters on the show, only enhance the feeling.
The difference, aside from there being actual character development, is that MacFarlane gets away with a lot more in terms of profanity, sexual humor and even some nudity. Involving an adorable teddy bear in all the raunch somehow makes it tolerable, though, even enjoyable. (Granted, Ted’s not in the scene in which Kunis cleans up some human waste, but I laughed anyway.)
Wahlberg surprised me by displaying some decent comedic chops. Not that he’s the next Jim Carrey or anything, but the way he taunts Ted with “Sing a Song of Sixpence” at one point was actually pretty funny, as was his rapid-fire riddling off of possible names of Ted’s latest girlfriend. Only when things get a little more serious do his acting limitations show.
And I have to give kudos to MacFarlane. For a movie with a premise as far-fetched as this one, he gives it surprising substance—enough, anyway—and does such a good job voicing Ted that you almost forget that he’s a) a stuffed toy and b) a seamlessly rendered CGI creation. The latter is especially impressive when Wahlberg and Ted get into a hysterical knock-down, drag-out fight.
The laughs flag a little in the latter half when Ted gets kidnapped by a typically weasley Giovanni Ribisi and we get a car chase and characters climbing up scaffolding. And, ultimately, the movie runs about 15 minutes or so longer than its premise really warrants. But at least we get some more riotous Stewart narration at the end, during which he does Brandon Routh no favors. – [DVD] [Blu-Ray]
Comedy/Fantasy
Rated R
DVD Release Date: 12/11/12