2012’s Ted certainly had its moments, but if I were writing a review blog back then, it would’ve gotten a C+. Not that the movie was bad, but too many of the film’s best laughs were extended pieces from the trailers. Luckily for Family Guy and American Dad creator, Seth McFarlane, the movie made enough money to warrant an unnecessary sequel.
Ted 2 continues the antics of Ted (voiced by Seth McFarlane), a foul mouthed teddy bear who was brought to life by his best friend John (Mark Wahlberg) when he was a kid. Ted is now getting married to his Boston dimwit of a girlfriend (Jessica Barth) and John is getting over his divorce to Mila Kunis’ character in the first film. While John’s life spirals, Ted’s is beginning to take off. That is, until he finds out that he and his wife can’t adopt a child because Ted is legally considered property and not a human. With the help of a young, stoner lawyer (Amanda Seyfried) Ted and John must sue the government to gain Ted’s civil rights.
Like the first film… and like pretty much anything Seth McFarlane has ever made…. the plot is all over the place. But this is a comedy, and story and structure can take a backseat as long as you are making the audience laugh. And Ted 2 brings tons of laughter. The first half hour of the film is filled with tear inducing comedy from hilarious cameos, to physical gags, to quick zingers. And McFarlane and Wahlberg are at their comedic best throughout.
And then, as if hit with a subpoena that forces the film to try to make some sort of social commentary, the film just goes a long stretch without being funny. In fact, I’ve never actually seen a movie go from hilarious to dull so quickly. There are a few funny moments sprinkled in, but compared to the gut busting beginning of the movie, the final two-thirds is relatively weak. The climax, which is almost a rehash of the final act of the previous film, is completely forgettable with the exception of a few snickers here and there.
What the movie has working for it most is the chemistry of its leads. Wahlberg and McFarlane have undeniable chemistry and they often help make mediocre jokes still relatively funny. If the last portion of the movie leaves you with a bit of a stale feeling, it helps to reminisce on all of the funny parts at the beginning… then just be thankful that this movie was better than Ted and no where near as atrocious as McFarlane’s last feature film.
FINAL GRADE: B-