Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Mark Wahberg, Seth MacFarlane, Amanda Seyfried, Jessica Barth, Giovanni Ribisi, Morgan Freeman, Sam J. Jones, Patrick Warburton, Michael Dorn, Bill Smitrovitch, John Slattery, Cocoa Brown, John Carroll Lynch, Ron Canada, Liam Neeson, Dennis Haysbert, Patrick Stewart, Tom Brady, Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Nana Visitor, Lexi Atkins, Craig Ricci Shaynak, Curtis Stigers, Alec Sulkin.
It somehow seems ridiculous that a film about a living, breathing, foul mouthed, cannabis smoking teddy bear could actually be one of the great saviours of American cinematic comedy, yet somehow add that volatile mix to the tremendous Seth MacFarlane’s body of work and the absolute dignity in cameo appearances by the likes of Sam J. Jones, Tom Brady, Nana Visitor, Jay Leno and the man with smoothest voice in cinema Morgan Freeman and what you have is a film that equals the United States great television comedy and makes such mistakes as Bad Neighbours seem like the dying regret of an over flushed toilet.
Ted 2 won’t appeal to all, mainly down to its use of humour and yet scratch beneath the surface of fluffy vulgarity, go beyond the stuffed cloth rammed with sex, cartoon violence and soft drug use and what you have is a cinematic beast that not only plays up to the many suggestions and liberties it can take but one that actually delivers a message that gets lost in so many other American film comedies presented to the public since the start of the 1990s. A message of hope and equality and the subtle swift kick to the underbelly of the shining cause that America forgets when it suits, tolerance and acceptance.
If Ted 2 isn’t liked by some then for others who see the joke for what it truly is, a pastiche on the American way of life and a joyful attack on right wing politics, it is a god-send, a true work of art brought to life by the anarchic and revolutionary and one that does make you laugh; even if you do realise that half the scenes are loving parodies of other films.
A film that can bring out the best in an actor perhaps not noted for his tenuous grip on the tag of film star, one that ask Sam J. Jones, Liam Neeson, Tom Brady and Patrick Stewart to bring out the self mockery and make fun of Jay Leno cannot be a bad thing but when it adds the dignity of Morgan Freeman to the party, that when American film comedy actually does make a very true and deserving stand.
Sequels can be hit or miss, the lack of originality sometimes bringing out the very worst in a film, yet something about Ted really gives the audience something to cheer for and for any of its faults, remarkably few, it could really teach other prospective film makers in America how to make good comedy, namely by avoiding any American comedy release between 1990 and 2011 and allowing the countries television makers to rule the roost in that department for a while, for in that medium they do actually care about making people laugh.
Ted 2 will divide audiences, of that there is no doubt, yet it will gladden the heart if you stick with it all the way through; for it is a film in which faith is restored.
Ian D. Hall