For his first feature, Seth MacFarlane doesn’t stray far from his wheelhouse with the tiresome Ted. A play on what happens when those magical tales of childhood wish fulfillment end, Ted finds slacker man-child Mark Wahlberg still palling around with the living teddy bear he wished for as a kid. Ted (voiced by MacFarlane) and Marky Mark are content to get high, drink brewskies and watch cheesy movies, but girlfriend Mila Kunis is a woman and thus ruins their special friendship. Seemingly stitched together out of rejected Family Guy bits, the numerous pop culture riffs and extended cartoon cutaway gags don’t make up for the cliched rom-com story beats. MacFarlane has all the money to do whatever he wants with his career. So it’s a shame he’s comfortable making something this lazy.
This article appears in Jun 28 – Jul 4, 2012.
Don’t let this biased “news article” make up your mind for you. Ted is a raunchy, yet hilarious film that will make you make you want to watch it again and again. It tells an incredible story and delivers a powerful message upon growing up and being an adult. With great names for its cast and many witty, raunchy jokes from the creator and writers of Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane’s teddy bear movie and directorial debut will definitely tickle your funny bone again and again!