Film Review- "Ted 2"

Ted 2
Directed by Seth MacFarlane
Starring Mark Whalberg, Amanda Seyfried, and Seth MacFarlane

We meet again, MacFarlane.

After the disappointing A Million Ways To Die In A West, I wasn't quite sure what to expect here. I know the "Family Guy" mastermind can do as much bad as he does good, but the first Ted is one of my favorite films. The reviews started to come in, and they weren't good. Then I saw it for myself…and I was pleasantly surprised to find I disagreed with the critics.

Ted 2 opens on the marriage of Ted (MacFarlane) and Tammy Lynn (Jessica Barth), while John's (Whalberg) marriage to Lori (The absent Mila Kunis) has fallen apart. I don't love the way they wrote Mila Kunis out of the sequel but let's move on. Ted and Tammy Lynn decide they want to have a baby. For obvious reasons they can't conceive, so they try through other means, such as sperm donors and adoption. This unearths the startling revelation that in the eyes of the government, Ted is not a person with civil rights, but property.

Unable to adopt a child, his civil rights non existent, and his marriage to Tammy Lynn annulled , Ted sets out to for justice. He hires a young, inexperienced lawer (Seyfried), named "cleverly" Samantha L. Jackson, whom John starts to get smitten with. Ted begins an uphill battle to get his life back, against the likes of a cutthroat lawyer played by John Slattery, and the vengeful return of that creep Donny (Giovanni Ribisi) from the first film.

I don't think anyone expected this to be the story of this sequel, but that's a good thing. It's creative, and it's not a rehash of the story of the original. I mean if you're going to do a sequel, make sure it's a story worth telling, right? Like the original, this film has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, although a few gags are either A. Recycled from Ted or B. Recycled from "Family Guy". MacFarlane is at his best here, managing to leave moments for heart and sincerity here, which is what made the first Ted such a success. It's not constant crude humor like A Million Ways To Die In The West, thought there are some jokes that made me cringe (It's Seth MacFarlane remember). To be honest I think MacFarlane knew what made Ted work so well, so he made sure to stay reserved for Ted 2.

Whalberg and MacFarlane resume their roles in true form, and once again have great chemistry. Seyfried is a welcome new addition, and does a fine job filling in the lead female role for Kunis. I'd actually argue this one of her better performances. Jessica Barth is given more to do as Tammy Lynn, and actually becomes a real character. There are plenty of hilarious cameos in this film that I'd dare not spoil for you.

Ignore the critics, folks. If you loved the first film, you'll love Ted 2. It's another mark in the good column for Seth MacFarlane. Grab your thunder buddy and head to the theatre.