Ted has all the makings of a nice holiday flick, but with one exception, it came from the hilarious mind of Seth MacFarlane, one of animated televisions most prized assets.
The film's concept is really quite simple. As the result of a childhood wish, John Bennett's teddy bear, Ted, comes to life and has been by John's side ever since"”a solidified friendship that's tested when Lori, John's girlfriend of four years, wants more from their relationship.
The trailers and the build up to the movie gave me high expectations for the type of comedy that would be seen in this film. I would recommend you tone those expectations down a notch. Fans of MacFarlane's show Family Guy will appreciate this big-screen adventure. The comedy is almost exactly what you get every week from watching the show.
The film comes packed with plenty of one liners; however, I feel that the real cleverness comes in Ted's more abstract bursts of inspiration, including self-deprecating cameos by singer Norah Jones and Flash Gordon star Sam J. Jones (no relation). Nearly every pop-culture gag in the film"”and there are many"”comes with a built-in explanation lest the references escape a broader audience than the target pothead-and-frat-boy crowd.
While Ted is a funny movie (featuring strong work from both Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis), I feel that it was very T.V.'ish. If you like Family Guy then it's safe to say you will like Ted, with an emphasis on "like" and not love. However, it is summer and hot, so giving Ted a chance is not such a bad idea.
