Ted 2 Reviews

Even though I really loved 'Ted', I thought that 'A Million Ways to Die in the West' turned out to be terribly disappointing, even if it actually had some potential. A year later, Seth MacFarlane tried to recover the damage done by releasing a sequel for his successful directing debut which didn't really sound like a bad idea but, unfortunately, the whole thing was again rather underwhelming, I'm afraid. I mean, the concept of having Ted fighting for his rights was actually not a bad idea but it never really worked. As Ted himself would say, 'that's some deep shit, dude' and I'm afraid the makers never really managed to handle this material properly. I mean, basically, they tried to tackle the actual meaning of life and what make us human but how are you going to achieve this with a teddy bear who swears, drinks and does drugs all the time? As a result, the whole thing felt like watching a rather dumb movie who tries to deal with some really deep subject but it was never really funny or entertaining. To conclude, even though it was slightly better than 'A Million Ways to Die in the West', it was still pretty weak and I don't think it is really worth a look, even if you really enjoyed the previous installment. 

    6.9/10

This sequel certainly didn't have the same effect on the general public like the first one did; but I didn't find it worse in any way. Perhaps people wanted something new in the second, or perhaps they just didn't want a second...

Either way, it has plenty of funny scenes that make up a decent enough comedy with a funny cameo that could have been so much funnier. Can't spoil it for you.

Initial Thought: I really enjoyed the first Ted film. After awhile I assumed this wasn't actually going to be made. Then to my surprise the trailer was released. From the trailer it didn't look as funny as the first one. I still could see the amusement and charm so I wanted to see it. Now I've finally had the opportunity to go and see it.

Characters/Acting: I'm a bit disappointed that Mila Kunis didn't return this time around. At least Mark Wahlberg and of course Seth MacFarlane return. It wouldn't make much sense otherwise. John's new love interest is played by Amanda Seyfried. Man this guy gets all the hotties. The cameos were great as usual. Seth MacFarlane always knows how to utilize them well. I prefer Mark Wahlberg in comedies. He seems much more at home here. Amanda Seyfried is just so adorable. It was good to see the old characters together again with the new additions.

Story: Newlywed couple Ted and Tami-Lynn want to have a baby, but in order to qualify to be a parent, Ted will have to prove he's a person in a court of law. It's almost a legitimate story except for the fact that Ted is a Teddy bear. The opening here reminded me a lot of the one from Family Guy. The cameo scenes were pretty hilarious. There is a scene that is pretty gross out, but the reactions to it made me laugh so hard. Some of the jokes here are pretty dark and twisted. I loved all the pop culture references from old to new. The Comic Con scene has to one of my favorites of the whole movie. I thought the ending was funny. Make sure to stay after the credits for a pretty hilarious short scene.

Directing/Writing: I've always enjoyed Seth MacFarlane's productions. He pushes the limits sometimes sure, but he really finds a way to get everyone to laugh. The only thing I've kind of noticed is that recent Family Guy episodes just haven't been what they used to be. Hopefully this won't be affected like that. Alec Sulkin who is a constant contributor to Seth MacFarlane's work returns here from the original Ted as well as Wellesley Wild. Every writer here is also an actor who plays a part. These guys really know how to make controversial subjects get laughs. They actually made a sequel that wasn't ridiculous.

Final Thought: This was actually a lot of fun. It's almost as funny as the first one. I wouldn't mind if they make a third one. Will have to wait and see. If you were a fan of part one I'm sure you will enjoy this one too. If not then I don't see what made you interested in reading this review.

"We'll get a lawyer, and we'll sue the fucking government for your civil rights!"

Even the most optimistic movie-goers could not have predicted the success of 2012's Ted, and although opinions on Seth MacFarlane's live-action directorial debut do vary, its $500 million worldwide box office take exceeded all expectations. With the feature having desensitised us to the idea of a foul-mouthed, pot-smoking teddy bear, it's business-as-usual for 2015's Ted 2, a follow-up that retains the proclivity for infantile humour and pop culture shout-outs within a narrative that provides a degree of dramatic heft. Although not as instantly iconic as its forerunner, Ted 2 is a worthwhile companion piece, and it's enormously funny and enjoyable as long as you're not easily offended. MacFarlane and his co-writers haven't exactly grown up, but that's fine.

The story picks up a couple of years after the first movie, with Ted (performed by MacFarlane) and his girlfriend Tami-Lynn (Jessica Barth) tying the knot, while Ted's best buddy John (Mark Wahlberg) is still recovering from his recent divorce. Twelve months on, Ted's marriage is on the fritz, as the pair constantly argue and can barely tolerate each other. Deciding that a baby may help to repair their union, the duo begin exploring their options, but Ted's civil rights are soon called into question by the government. Officially branded as "property," Ted is forced to leave his job and his marriage is nullified. Deciding to fight the ruling, Ted and John call upon junior attorney Samantha Jackson (Amanda Seyfried) to prove that Ted is a person in the eyes of the law.

Although MacFarlane's last movie, A Million Ways to Die in the West, did satisfy this reviewer, it was undeniably long and self-indulgent, not to mention there wasn't much substance beneath the movie's surface. Ted was grounded due to the relationship of John and his beloved teddy bear which was easy to relate to, and Ted 2 traverses new thematic territory, with Tami-Lynn unable to have a child and with Ted receiving harsh treatment from the government. Moreover, Ted 2 actually provides a balanced discussion of race and gender issues that is somewhat thought-provoking despite all of the crude humour and profane language. A subplot involving the eternally creepy Donny (Giovanni Ribisi) - who's now a janitor at Hasbro - does threaten to spoil the fun, but thankfully it's handled briskly and tactfully. Likewise, the courtroom scenes could have been tedious, but the furious pacing never falters, and the gags keep on coming.

As to be expected from MacFarlane, Ted 2's humour is mostly derived from obscure pop culture references, creative uses of the word "fuck," prolonged comedic set-pieces (a battle royal at New York Comic Con is an instant classic), and hilarious non-sequiturs, including a completely random scene involving the leads tossing apples at joggers. A scene involving Ted and a surprise celebrity guest discussing Trix is side-splitting, and there's a pitch-black scene at an improv comedy club that probably shouldn't be as funny as it is. MacFarlane even plays around with cinematography for extra laughs - a heated argument between Ted and his wife is lensed using hilariously exaggerated vérité-style photography for heightened effect. There are other fun ideas here as well, including references to John Hughes movies (most notably Planes, Trains & Automobiles) and a brief parody of Jurassic Park that had this reviewer sobbing with laughter. While there are a lot of dumb jokes, Ted 2 lands more than it misses, with MacFarlane maintaining a constant stream of woofers and never dwelling on one punch-line for too long.

The original Ted was bolstered by superb digital effects, and the CGI is actually improved here - the titular teddy bear looks photorealistic. It's possible to forget we are looking at a computer-generated character, which is a huge plus since neither the comedy nor the story would resonate if Ted didn't look convincing. Ted 2 is a fantasy, of course, yet we can believe that this toy is a living, breathing character...who does drugs and is a deviant in the bedroom. MacFarlane again does well in the role, displaying spot-on comedic timing and selling the one-liners with gusto. Beside him, Wahlberg again performs admirably, scoring ample laughs whilst somehow remaining fairly restrained. Mila Kunis was unable to return here due to her pregnancy, and it's definitely hard to swallow that John and Lori broke up, especially since it makes the events of the original movie feel utterly pointless in the long run. Nevertheless, in her place, Seyfried is a worthy love interest. They have great chemistry, and it's a credit to MacFarlane for choosing an actress who works well with Wahlberg. Meanwhile, the supporting cast is filled out with other great names - even Morgan Freeman plays a small but critical role. Sam Jones plays himself yet again, and Ribisi's minor appearance as Donny is mightily amusing.

The internet community sharpened their knives for Ted 2, ostensibly due to the underwhelming nature of A Million Ways to Die in the West, the mysterious dislike for Family Guy, and the fact that it has become hip to retroactively hate on the surprise hit that was the original Ted. Yet, the sequel worked for this reviewer - even though it runs a bit long at close to two hours, I enjoyed every minute of it, as it's frequently amusing and has a solid story at its core. It's hard to imagine any fans of the first film being disappointed. And be sure to stay until the end of the credits.

7.7/10