Ted 2
Starring Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane
Directed by Seth MacFarlane
After the runaway success of Seth MacFarlane’s Ted, a sequel was inevitable and, although the foul-mouthed teddy bear overstays his welcome a bit, Ted 2 is still full of shocking gags, which, for the most part, hit the mark.
The movie opens with a wedding, but not just any wedding; Ted is getting hitched and if you can forget about the ridiculousness of a grown woman marrying a wisecracking stuffed bear then you’ll do just fine with the rest of the movie.
However, Ted soon draws the ire of government officials and must eventually prove he’s a person and not the property of Hasbro toys. So, our heroic furball and John (Wahlberg) enlist the help of a young lawyer (Amanda Seyfried) who agrees to take their case pro bono.
Despite the juvenile humour and downright offensiveness of Ted 2’s jokes, there is no denying the commitment of its cast. Wahlberg’s timing and banter with MacFarlane is precise and seamless, while Seyfried has rarely been funnier. Memorable cameos are also peppered throughout, including a scene-stealing Liam Neeson buying cereal at the supermarket.
Credit should also be given to MacFarlane and his team of writers for attempting to put some substance into Ted’s struggle for civil rights, which, although it sounds absurd, couldn’t be timelier.
Ted 2 is about 20 minutes too long and not every punchline delivers; but for the most part, the movie’s endless parade of quips will satisfy fans of the original and leave room for a handful of quotable moments.
