by Wal Reid
He’s back. Those like myself who wrote off the foul mouthed, pot smoking soft toy after the first outing (just thought it was a movie with a dumb premise), will be happy to hear he’s done enough to secure a return in the new Ted 2 film
Okay, there are enough ‘C’ bombs & ‘F’ bombs to sink a battleship, however it’s not society’s depravities under the microscope here nor the moral decline of the western world, it’s a film review, so with that in mind we check out the movie that’s better than your average bear-fare
Seth MacFarlane (Ted, Family Guy) and Mark Wahlberg (John Bennett) team up again as the ‘Thunder buddies’ in this movie that crept up and pleasantly surprised me. One: it had a semi intelligent script with a half-decent story line and two: great timing and comedic delivery, I mean I could quote some of the lines here but would have to risk being ostracised by Gloriavale-ites and animal lovers (and those are just the ones where I live). Yep nothing’s sacred in this movie, the movie pushing the envelope in cinematic shock novelty, not even Jay Leno having gay sex in a bar toilet is off limits
So Ted gets hitched with lovely Tami-Lynn (Jessica Barth) but then has to fight off a court battle of proving whether or not he’s a person or a ‘thing’ otherwise their wedding will be annulled, enter Samantha (Amanda Seyfried) lawyer and John’s love interest who helps the pair, of course being a soft toy presents its challenges. Wahlberg, Mr Entourage plays a ‘watered down’ version of himself, not a bad thing but the CGI relationship with Ted is a chemistry coup, it’s pretty believable and well played out. Seyfried is the fresh-faced pot smoking lawyer who is hired because of her herbal ‘relaxation’ techniques but is in great support here, however for me Giovanni Ribisi returning role as the Ted’s antagonist Donny the man who is famous for his line “I can give you love and rocking horses and dancing” is perfect as the creepy arch villain his catch phrase ‘fresh cakes’ sends a shiver up the spine
Ted 2 has a story line that is better than your comedy dross that’s been released lately, it’s a watch that caught myself laughing more than once. There’s a couple of celebrity cameo appearances a la Entourage (Check out the crack up supermarket scene with Liam Neeson or Morgan Freeman in there) but it’s an entertaining light watch that requires very little attention on behalf of the viewer to still get the movie
With a story line that is better than your comedy dross that’s been released lately, it’s a watch that caught myself laughing more than once. There’s a couple of celebrity cameo appearances a la Entourage (Check out the crack up supermarket scene with Liam Neeson) but it’s an entertaining light watch that requires very little attention on behalf of the viewer to still get the movie
Ted is everything you think it isn’t, there’s subtle minority oppression overtones here, however I can’t imagine Ted changing his Facebook profile pic with a transparent rainbow anytime yet. It doesn’t take itself seriously and may like myself catch you off guard, it’s no Academy vote but I’d imagine it would be the prefect start to a pre-stag do or a night out with rent-a-crowd