Review: Ted (2012)

Ted (2012)

Toy Story with Tourette’s

Released: 1 August 2012

Director: Seth MacFarlane

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane (voice), Joel McHale, Giovanni Ribisi, Patrick Warburton, Patrick Stewart

Plot: Thirty- something couple John (Wahlberg) and Lori (Kunis) have a happy, steady relationship, or so it seems. As a childhood loner, John’s wish for his teddy, Ted (MacFarlane) to come alive was granted, who still lives with the pair. But as John and Lori’s relationship grows, which of John’s other halves is the third wheel?

IF you can count on one man to push the limits of the moral zeitgeist a little further with each creative development, look no further than Seth MacFarlane. In fact, you could argue confidently that he may even have been redefining it for years, post- Family Guy, through into American Dad! and The Cleveland Show. Now the same rule applies for his first crack at the big screen with Ted, a laugh-a-minute comedy about a Boston couple living with one half of their relationship’s inability to grow up – manifested physically in the form of a talking, smoking, swearing teddy bear aptly named Ted (voiced by MacFarlane himself).

            Fans of MacFarlane’s work will adore the sorts of jokes they are accustomed to (as well as indulge in placing the voices of Family Guy regulars) and non- fans alike are in for something profoundly different from their average, ‘safe’ Hollywood humour – Ted speaks of his unorthodox uses for parsnips, smokes pot with hookers, and crosses the line with regards to flirting from a distance. In retrospect, the line is always a step behind Ted.

Ted (Seth MacFarlane) relaxes with four 'friends'.
Friends, hookers, call them what you will

            The script, co-written with MacFarlane’s regulars Wellesley Wild and Alec Sulkin, is relentless, unforgiving and downright ballsy. As per the standard of MacFarlane’s animated shows, boundaries are pushed and no one ethnic, religious, or other social group is exempt from parody or criticism. This is exactly what gives Ted its edge, however. MacFarlane is unafraid for his characters to punch a child, attack a neighbour and his duck (no, not a typo), or do cocaine with Flash Gordon (yes cocaine, and yes, Flash Gordon AKA Sam Jones). However crude or offensive, Ted makes it undeniably funny. Jones himself has a fair portion of screen time for a cameo – obviously a result of MacFarlane’s inner child’s love for the 80s, which resounds throughout the film (a highlight being a recreation of a famous Airplane! scene), brought to life brilliantly. This does mean, though, that many jokes are best appreciated by older audiences, some going awash on younger generations. Similarly, UK audiences are at a loss for some American in-jokes, that is, save for those who keep up to date with US sports, celebrities, politics or other aspects of culture – a problem Family Guy and American Dad! have also had in making the trip across the pond. Fans of the aforementioned will also notice that there are a few recycled jokes thrown in from them, too. That said, the majority of laughs are universally hilarious (unless a prude pair of eyes are watching), and the signature cutaway gags provide genuine laughs.

The beautiful Mila Kunis as Lori

            Major credits are also due to the overlooked talents of Mark ‘Marky Mark’ Wahlberg and Mila Kunis, whose presence match the lovability/hilarity ratio struck by Ted himself. John (Wahlberg) does a great job of portraying a man haunted by his immaturity in the most literal sense, all the while proving himself to be an extremely versatile actor – the trailer- stealing guess-the-white-trash-name scene being a prime example here, sporting verbal dexterity that very few comedy actors can muster. Not faltering throughout, Wahlberg delivers a comedy performance worthy of recognition. Admittedly, Kunis is a little overshadowed by the two other leads, though her character thankfully doesn’t involve completely dismantling Ted and John’s relationship, instead joining in on some banter and portraying a sister/brother- like relationship with Ted. Her share of witty lines is dim in comparison to Wahlberg and MacFarlane’s, but when she gets them, her charm and sweetness adds flavour to the script.

            Also noteworthy is the FX team’s utilisation of motion capture. In Ted, you ask? Yes – Ted is merely a downsized, fluffier, but just as foul-mouthed incarnation of Seth MacFarlane, who acted out all the scenes in full motion capture gear, which is a first in the comedy genre as MacFarlane has noted himself. Had Ted kept up the balance of first class joke- cracking with a decent storyline through to the third act, this would have been a hands down five star comedy. Unfortunately the narrative takes a dive in the form of a needless car chase, which is part of a string of clichéd events thereafter. The jokes though, remain solid (save for the odd curveball) and cameos from the likes of Patrick Stewart (voice) and Ryan Reynolds show that stars worth their mettle aren’t afraid to make fun of themselves in the name of comedy. Ted is fresh and filled with laughs, making a good refinement of a familiar setup.

Verdict: Leaping hurdles over the formulaic comedies constantly pumped out by Hollywood, Ted instantly alights the pedestal as the best comedy of the year. MacFarlane has proven himself and his writers formidable adversaries for comedy auteurs everywhere. ★★★★