TED 2 (review)

Review by Stefan Blitz

Sequels have a rough go, especially with comedies.

This weekend Ted joins the ranks of Anchorman, The Hangover, Dumb and Dumber, Ghostbusters, Airplane!, Horrible Bosses, Hot Tub Time Machine, The Blues Brothers and dozens more as a less funny, bloated and completely unnecessary sequel.

To paraphrase Dr. Ian Malcolm, “(studios) were so preoccupied with whether they could (make a sequel) that they didn’t stop to think if they should.”

Ted 2 is funny.

But that’s it.

Once again, multi-hyphenate MacFarlane and his writers stick to the same formula that has driven the mediocrity of his television work since the beginning; Repeat jokes from other movies and television series and throw in non-related gags often with a celebrity cameo.

In that sense, Ted 2 doesn’t disappoint, with a number of pointless cameos including Liam Neeson, Jay Leno, Tom Brady, Jimmy Kimmel, several SNL cast members, and another visit from Sam J. Jones.   Patrick Warburton returns as Wahlberg’s former co-worker, Guy, who’s now in a relationship with a virtually unrecognizable Michael Dorn.  When they reappear in the film bullying attendees at NY Comic Con, they’re cosplaying as The Tick and Worf; the same characters they played on tv!  Pretty sneaky, Seth!  What a gag!

The plot meanders around Ted’s civil rights battle (they watch Roots, which is just like the plight of a pot smoking magical teddy bear. right?), Wahlberg’s romance with Seyfried (playing Ted’s attorney..wait for it.  Samantha L. Jackson.  Sam L. Jackson!  Genius!) and a subplot involving the return of Ribisi’s Donny, just to ensure that creepy pedophiles have someone to relate to.  Finally, there’s a strange subplot with Hasbro, who have partnered with Donny to kidnap Ted, find out what makes him magical so they can reproduce it and sell millions of Teds to children everywhere.

Which makes you wonder how much Hasbro paid for the license.

Ted 2 is lazy, redundant and unmemorable.  But, there were several times that I did laugh.  It’s your call.  If you want to see it, you’re not going to listen to me anyways.