Ted 2 Review

Ted has become synonymous with being enough parts both cute and raunchy that he has become rather mainstream quickly, and written to the sort of humor that is multigenerational, and it makes both child and parent laugh heartily. 

   I recently caught Ted 2 in theaters a few weeks back, but do to complications, was barely able to begin writing a review, let-alone finishing the review. Still, I was quite pleased with the film, even though it was given poor reviews, despite the adamant success of the first film. This film was the follow-up to Ted, taking place about a year-and-a-half after the first one finished. Johnny has divorced, and Ted has married Tamilyn, which is where the movie starts,with Ted's wedding. Production value was ramped up, and you can clearly see Seth McFarlene's approach towards writing much clearer in this film, albeit, there are few side references like there were in the first film, as it is far more linear, but the jokes suffer for this direct approach. Still, I found it laughable in a good way, but was the sequel itself necessary? Fans wanted it, and really this was a film for the fans, as it did pay a great deal of attention to the demographic, and it placed to the average millennial. In-that way, the film was a success, but seeing the trash Hollywood puts out yearly, to be overly critical and harsh to Ted 2 is a bit unfair. 

    The story is like so many in film today: barely present, because it has fallen onto the director to tell story through imagery, and that quite-often affects the outcome of a film, making it mediocre, where it would've been a classic had it been given more tender-loving care. Still, for a sequel that had big shoes to fill, the movie isn't terrible, and has more story and humor than most comedies released yearly, a much better film than A Million Ways to Die in a the West, which felt over-acted on the part of McFarlene. Yet, I felt this movie was more a stoner buddy comedy, whereas the first film had friends getting stoned, but it wasn't so-much the advocacy of the film, in many ways it was almost like the first film was against the sophomoric approach of getting stoned, and growing up, this film was more about degenerating back to toilet humor and pot jokes. That kind of saddened me, because the ideas pointed out in the first film about a teddy bear that comes to life, then grows up into an immature adult had so much humor behind it, especially through McFarlene's lens, that this film was made to placate to the audience, rather than to the creativity of the artform. 

     Comedy is tough, ask anyone who attempts to get a room of so many unique individuals to laugh at one universal joke that isn't cliché, so I get why the masters of comedy we truly the best the world have to offer, but this movie was easy picking, targets that even a first-year drama major could've hit, and it'd still be seen as too poignant a film. 

    I did like Ted 2, and found it funny, but it simply doesn't live up to the original. I know a lot of people say that about sequels, thus writing them off like they're not even worth the time, but I can assure you this film was worth the admission price: it was fun, it had the whole audience laughing, and most-importantly, it had great dialogue,,which was acted well, but sadly it misses the mark on many good opportunities when it came to story. The whole civil rights angle they tried to play was okay, and really it was rather relevant to the time of the film, but it still is not the kind of story that actually made the franchise successful, and was not nearly as well thought-out as the first. I'm have mixed feeling so about this film, because I can appreciate the humor for what it was supposed to be, and it is far-better acted than most comedies that barely make you snicker, let-alone laugh, though I felt it could've been better, and we as fans deserved better. 

     Did I like Ted 2? Yes, but would I say it was a great film? Well, name one comedy in the past forty-to-fifty years that's held up, the last comedy films I actually enjoyed that could be considered a series was the first two Ghostbusters films, and in-truth that was because it had the great Harold Ramis at the helm, probably the best comedic actor/writer/director since Mel Brooks. Sadly he has passed on, and will be truly missed. McFarlene is a comedic master, and a spot-on director, but he over acts, and it hurts his brand. I know he's a great voice actor, but voice acting and acting are apples and oranges, and he can only get better,as shown with his ability to voice Ted, but his shifty performance in A Million Ways to Die in the West. Liam Neeson's promo Ted 2 was one of the funniest things I've seen in a long while, and probably the best/biggest surprise of the entire film. 

   I would just like to end by saying that if you haven't seen Ted 2, it is worth a watch, maybe rent it whenever it becomes available, but as a purchase, I'd be wary to buy it on DVD, even for the special features, or even for the unrated version, which I don't see being all-that-better than the theatrical version. 

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Ted: Movie Review

First things first, Ted is an “R” rated film, which means It’s going to be Family Guy style humor without a censor, so parents are apt to leave the kiddies at home for this one, thought it may seem at times marketed towards a teen and child audience. Personally, I would bring a thirteen year old to this film, it wasn’t that raunchy for a developing teen, but perhaps a sixteen year old is more the fair age for this film.

            Ted is about a potty-mouthed, sexist, Bostonite teddy bear…I could just say that and that would be the end of the story, but there is some more that can be used to explain it further: see, the story is based on the crazy writings of Seth McFarlene, the creator of the shows Family Guy, and American Dad. The story is about a boy who makes a wish for his stuffed teddy bear to come to life and be his best friend forever. His wish comes true, and Ted turns into an anthropomorphic being, and grows to be a best friend to the young boy.

            Basically, this story is about a foul-mouthed bear that grows with his best friend into a stoner loser. Seth McFarlene is the voice of Ted, and other Family Guy favorite, Mia Kunis is the girlfriend of Mark Wahlberg. Her part was not really memorable, since it is mostly about Ted. I really didn’t find her part to be spectacular, and really the only thing I took away from her character was that she was the only one that really had any maturity throughout the whole movie.

            Overall the film is rauncy, vile, showing simulated sex between a teddy bear and several women, brief nudity here and there, but mostly foul language, but it is done mostly for emphasis of the scenes, rather than for shock value.

    I don’t really think that much needs to be said about this film, the most exciting part of the film was the preview of the Dark Knight Rises, but the movie was generally funny, a rather under-the-table sleeper of the summer, but it really was not as amazing as I would’ve expected, considering the hype of Seth McFarlene’s first major motion picture, and it NOT being a Family Guy movie.

            The humor is gross, sophomoric, but at times there are a few gems, and the Boston mindset is really captured well at times, though bordering on the verge of stereotypes. Would I recommend this movie? Yes, and no, but I would say in a day-and-age when tickets are peaking almost twenty dollars each, I would say it would be cheaper and more satisfying to viewers to wait for this one to come on DVD and Blu-Ray, rather than see it in theaters.

            It’s really hard to give away any plot to the fil, seeing as the plot centers around putting away your childhood things, and moving on with one’s life, which the main character has difficulty doing with Ted, this makes it difficult for him to have a relationship with Mila Kunis, but despite all her last-chances, Walhberg’s character still manages to screw up every chance given, and finally forces Ted to move out and find his own place. Though Ted is a talking teddy bear, his fame has come and gone, like a “Where are they Now?” special, and although he’s out working, making his own way, there is some danger even for a teddy bear.

            A psychotic fan (played by Giovanni Ribisi) of Ted wants to capture him, and make him a present for his equally creepy son. This leads to a confrontation where Ted is then basically captured, stolen, and kept hostage. The ending of course is a mixed message to how we treat our possessions, but mostly it’s a stoner film with a talking teddy bear.

            In the end, the film is okay, not spectacular, but okay. In this day-and-age when everything is a superhero movie, and Hollywood basically throws a dart at any past fiolm made, for another remake, this movie is a taste of originality, despite having more college-based satire, and sophomoric jokes.

            I would say the movie is not Oscar-worthy, but then again, most movies are not Oscar-worthy. Ted is funny, but I wouldn’t go so-far as to call it the best movie of the year, or best comedy of the year, or even the best summer picture of the year. It is just good, and if you’re interested in seeing it that bad, you will, but I would say that it should be rented or bought on DVD or Blu-Ray, not something to just run out and see. For those who so desires a rating system, I would give it a 3.5 out of 5, but seeing as I don’t use any true point system, I would rather just say the movie is worth a rent, or possibly a buy if you’re a fan of McFarlene’s earlier work, but I’m just not that heavy on recommending spending a dime at the theater for this one.

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