FILM REVIEWS
Review Scoring Chart - 10: Masterpiece; 9: Outstanding; 8: Very Good; 7: Good; 6: Above Average; 5: Average; 4: Below Average; 3: Bad; 2: Awful; 1: Reprehensible; 0: Non- Functional.
TED
Dir: Seth MacFarlane
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane, Joel McHale, Giovanni Ribsi
Running Time: 106mins
Despite
flourishing on television with the likes of Community and
Parks & Rec, comedy is stuck in the doldrums on the big
screen, often relegated to supporting act in romcoms placing more
emphasis on their former syllable than their latter. Aside from
occasional unexpected gems like Black Dynamite or Easy A,
it is increasingly difficult to recall any movie of the past few
years providing any more substantial laughs than a handful of forced
chuckles.
When Seth MacFarlane, creator of the loathsome Family Guy and somewhat better American Dad, announced his intention to direct a movie about a swearing teddy bear, the trend didn't seem likely to end any time soon. Ted is no masterpiece, but against all probability, is consistently funny and, bar an inexplicably insipid final ten minutes, as pure a comedy as you will find this side of Top Secret! The feeling pervades that more could have been made from some promising material and endearingly game stars, but for sheer volume of laughs, it provides hope for the genre's resurrection.