Director: Seth MacFarlane
Starring: Mark Wahlberg,  Amanda Seyfried,  Seth MacFarlane (voice),  Liam Neeson,  Morgan Freeman,  Jessica Barth,  Giovanni Ribisi, Richard Schiff,  Patrick Warburton,  Michael Dorn,  Dennis Haysbert,  John Slattery,  Tom Brady
Rating: 15
Running time: 115 mins
Release date: July 10th, 2015

After being a surprising successful hit in 2012, TED is back once more on the big screen causing mayhem with his thunder buddy in a bid to take on the justice system and make himself human…

It has been three years since we last saw the two chaotic characters on the big screen and now we have TED 2. Film’s naughtiest bear is delivering much of the same commotion and tongue-in-cheek dialogue that he has been accustomed for. Seth MacFarlane is back in the director’s chair and is once again voicing the infamous, loud-mouth, wise-talking bear.

This time around we see Ted, (a bear who has been transformed from a fuzzy-wuzzy cute toy into a trash-talking, dope-smoking puppet) getting married – to a human – Tami-Lynn (Jessica Barth). However, the honeymoon does not last long for the odd couple, as one year later we see a rather stressed Ted assessing the bills and throwing a hissy fit over the expenditures of his wife. Couples therapy is not working and they’re on the brink of a collapsed marriage, so what does Ted decide to do? He makes a suggestion to have a baby. Easily said, but not easily done as he lacks a certain piece of anatomy that would help to get the job fulfilled.

So, Ted and his thunder buddy John (Mark Wahlberg) decide to go on a hunt for some sperm, which leads them to perhaps the most comical part of the film, where Ted could almost be confused for Paddington Bear in his yellow rain suit whilst attempting to collect Tom Brady’s sperm whilst he sleeps.

Of course, things don’t go to plan, so heading to the sperm bank is their next resort…

John accidentally knocks over a shelving unit and ends up splashed with ejaculated ‘substances’ and things go from bad to worse for the stuffed walking-talking bear after being denied the opportunity to adopt when he is deemed as ‘property’ and not as a person.

Throughout the film during John and Ted’s exploits to rectify this ruling with the help of a pot-smoking lawyer played by Amanda Seyfried, the characters deliver some rather tongue-in-cheek dialogue that has not been received well by some of the reviews, which have been rather icy. However, it is TED 2. Let’s be honest here, for anyone who has seen TED which was released back in 2012, they will know that he is not your average cuddly teddy bear: he’s crude, rude and known for spouting rather controversial lines, yet despite this at the very full screening I attended, there was certainly no shortage of laughter. This is not the type of film that is going to bag a million of awards or Oscars, but much like the wood-stain Ronseal –  it does exactly what it says on the tin. This film, co-written by MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild, is the uproarious and incorrect sequel to the stoner fantasy-satire TED – what did anyone else expect?

The context verges on occasion of borderline inappropriate that might make you wince. Some people may laugh, some may titter nervously, but despite their scripting intentions it is definitely not intentionally hateful. 

The actors engage the audience effortlessly and much like in the first installment, Mark Wahlberg plays his stoner role well. He is very capable of making viewers forget that Ted is not really there. He has good onscreen chemistry with ‘gollum-eyed’ Amanda Seyfried, who is clearly enjoying her comedic role and bounces well off Wahlberg and MacFarlane. 

Aside from the regular and new faces, the film does have some rather great cameos including Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman and of course there is that hilarious scene with Tom Brady!

The story arc for the film ebbs and flows and just when you think it may have finished, it doesn’t and as a result, TED 2 may well be fifteen minutes too long. However, despite the somewhat controversial jokes and attention it has created, the film does have a rather heartwarming message during Ted’s turbulent time – acceptance – and our need to be more open-minded and less judgemental. As Morgan Freeman says, “Anyone who can inspire that sort of love in a person deserves to be called a human.” The relationship between John and Ted is still definitely the biggest success of the film.

TED 2  is a torrent of outrageous gags, uncompromisingly funny, cheerfully offensive and certainly at the start of the movie, you feel as though you have consumed a delirious blast of laughing gas! A clever concoction of humour, jokes and despite some of the more tongue-in-cheek dialogue, the film does what it sets out to do: provide a barrel of laughs and an enjoyable time for the audience.

Verdict 

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