Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Ted review

Ted is the first feature film from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. I can assure you that any fan of that show needs to see Ted. It's the same sense of humour but more profane. The story is that 8 year old John Bennett gets a Teddy Bear for Christmas and wishes for it to be alive. When the wish comes true, his parents' reaction is hilarious. But they get used to it and Ted becomes a celebrity and even appears on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Fast forward to the present day and Ted (voiced by MacFarlane) is still best pals with John (Mark Wahlberg). They behave like overgrown frat boys. The problem is that John's girlfriend Lori (Mila Kunis) wants John to grow up and wants Ted to move out. Part of the problem is that Lori has a really good job and John is basically a bum. The film shows how they met in flashback and the physical attraction was immediate. But she's very nice and John wants her to be happy. So Ted moves out and is hired by a supermarket manager even more depraved than him. And he picks up the hot new cashier. It doesn't seem to help John much. The two are obsessed with the 1977 film Flash Gordon, quite possibly one of the worst films ever made. When the film's star Sam Jones comes to one of Ted's crazy parties, John abandons Lori at a party at her boss's home. She splits up with him and her boss (Joel McHale) tries to butter her up by taking her to a Norah Jones concert. Then Ted is kidnapped and tries to escape in Fenway Park. Through all the raunchy humour, the ending may have you shedding a few tears. Obviously the key to this film is MacFarlane's performance as Ted. They used motion capture of MacFarlane for Ted's movements. Obviously a Teddy Bear can get away with bad behaviour and say things that most would never say. And a lot of what he says is hilarious. And Wahlberg plays off him very well. But in the end, MacFarlane makes you care about Ted and that's why the ending is so effective. So far the film has done very well at the box office and I expect a sequel if MacFarlane wants to do one. Even the trailer is funny. So I recommend you see Ted.

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