I was a huge fan of Family Guy (1999-ongoing) but admittedly my interest has waned ever since the show was un-cancelled a second time. It was as if creator/writer/voice actor Seth McFarlane was handed a huge pile of money by Fox and allowed to do anything he wanted. The show got a lot more extreme in terms of humour and how offensive it could be. Soon it became over-confident and just too random. As such it just wasn’t as clever or funny as it used to be, but I’m pleased to say the show is getting back on form and has me cracking up again over new episodes. Unlike The Cleveland Show (2009-ongoing), which has not made me laugh once.
As a fan, I was thrilled to hear that Seth would be doing a feature film about a foul mouthed teddy bear that comes alive due to his friend’s childhood wish. With the canvas that a feature film can offer an artist as creative as him I had high hopes for this film. I just had to get over the fact that Ted sounds exactly like Peter Griffin. Not very original at all, but I’d heard good word of mouth regarding this film.
The film starts out with John Bennett as a small, lonely child who receives a teddy bear one Christmas (in an opening scene narrated by the excellent Patrick Stewart, who enthusiastically talks about the wonders of Apache helicopters). John makes a wish for his bear to some alive and really talk so that they can be best friend forever. And that’s just what happens. It doesn’t matter how Ted (voiced by Set McFarlane) comes alive, it’s more of the fact he does, freaks out John’s parents and becomes an overnight global star.
Fast forward to today, where we see Ted smoking a bong alongside a 35-year-old John (now Mark Wahlberg), who has a bad case of the munchies. John’s long term girlfriend Lori (Mila Kunis) wants to take their relationship to the next level after 4 years together and John is faced with the dilemma of choosing between his furry best friend and the love of his life. Basically we have a rom com-slash-buddy movie about growing up. And it’s hilarious!
So firstly with the Family Guy comparisons. Yes, Ted sounds like Peter Griffin and he even questions that himself at one point in the film, but where Peter is dumb and generally harmless, Ted is a completely different character. He had the world at his feet when he first came to life and doesn’t care that it’s now gone and he’s yesterday’s news. He’s chauvinistic, ballsy, has little morality and generally just wants to have a good time and be there for his thunder buddy John.
Mila Kunis is a great actress in rom-com roles, but when she whines she just sounds like Meg Griffin, which perhaps isn’t surprising as she voices that Family Guy character. Indeed, most of the actors in this film have voiced characters on the show, which can be slightly distracting as you try to guess who they play. The film also has a similar sense of humour, such as deliberately over the top racial stereotypes, religious mockery, the Stewie Griffin voice, and long haired European guys who likes to go to nightclubs. Although we have a lot of familiar material, it doesn’t seem recycled as Ted (2012) is the same but still very different and I’m glad to say less random than Family Guy.
The storyline is a lot more focused and it allows time for the characters to develop and for the audience to empathise with them. The random humour moments are worked into the storyline much like America Dad! (2005-ongoing) and it ties up the story nicely. Plus it is full of the pop culture references and genuine wit Seth McFarlane can bring.
Mark Wahlberg is great in this film, portraying different sides to a character who could easily have been one-dimensional. He’s still coping with childhood alienation and not wanting to grow up and take responsibility, or as Lori perfectly sums it up, “As long as he’s got his teddy bear he’s always going to be a boy. Joel McHale does a terrific sleazy boss but the crowning achievement in creepiness goes to Giovanni Ribisi as Donny: the young, deprived boy who wanted a talking bear for himself, and now as a man has promised to never say no to his son with sinister results.
The film has a wealth of well-placed cameos, including Sam J Jones playing up his 80s fame as childhood hero Flash Gordon (1980). I loved that film and I love the parody of the character in this film, as well as the use of Queen’s soundtrack.
Admittedly there is very little originality on show and the film is clichéd as hell, but with some films the fun isn’t in the ending or the structure, it’s all about how it’s fleshed out and how it entertains you. But despite this mild criticisms, I’m glad Seth’s been given the reigns and allowed to do what he wanted with this film.
Unfortunately there are no extras on the DVD, so you’ll have to get the Blu-ray if you want anything beyond the film. It’s a shame as I would have liked to have seen some deleted scenes, as I felt that some of the characters were underused. The Blu-ray release also includes a making of ’, alternate takes, Teddy Bear Scuffle’, a gag reel and commentary from McFarlane, co-writer Alec Sulkin and Wahlberg. Will I be buying it for these extras? Probably yes, as I’ve seen this film twice in three days and have still found it hilarious!
Overall Verdict: At its heart this is a film about love and the relationships to the people who are important to you. It has serious moments mixed with the perfect blend of laugh out loud, gross out humour. It’s one of the funniest film I’ve seen in a long time!
Special Features:
Theatrical and Unrated cut
Reviewer: George Elcombe