Prime Cut: Ted
Its premise is one of the most magical you can think of: a young, lonesome boy wishes for his bear to really be alive so that they could be best friends. But what happens after that oh-so-special moment? That’s the heart and soul of Ted, the R-Rated summer blockbuster that conquered the box office it’s opening weekend. So how does this original comedy measure up in the laughs department?
Ted is the brainchild of Seth MacFarlane, the mastermind behind animated hits like Family Guy, American Dad and The Cleveland Show. This is his feature film debut, and what he delivers is a testament to the comedy genre. The story follows John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a loner child with no real friends. Fate smiles on him when his wish is granted and his brand-new teddy bear comes to life. That’s about the most normal part of the film, because after that, it goes full speed ahead as 5 star laugh-fest. Growing up with Ted, John is now 35 years old, has a beautiful, understanding girlfriend (Mila Kunis), but hasn’t really grown up. Neither has Ted (voiced by Seth MacFarlane), who has been living a life of no responsibility.
This film pulls no punches, and earns it’s R-rating, with sex, drugs and language all over the place. Yet, as an original, R-rated comedy, it is one of the funniest films I have ever seen. It’s like someone took an episode of Family Guy and said, “go crazy”. Wahlberg, Kunis, and MacFarlane all bring their A game, as they shine throughout the film. Even the support characters, and one very famous sci-fi cult icon, really help the film reach higher levels than originally thought.
I walked out literally tired from all the laughing, and that’s not an exaggeration. Ted is the funniest film I have seen since 2010’s Dinner for Schmucks, and it easily tops that Steve Carell classic. Just be warned, this film is full of four letter words, drug paraphernalia, sexual references and more. Now, that shouldn’t stop you from seeing this, as it is one of the best modern day comedies to grace the silver screen. Just be prepared for one wild ride.