Funny all the way through

Rating: 6/10 (31 August 2013)

I've been in the mood for R-rated comedies lately, and I've been lucky to find a string of them that I've all enjoyed. Ted was one of the better ones in that it didn't totally deflate in the final act, although it did start to feel clichéd and conventional. The early scenes are funny as John and Ted have to grow up and get separate lives. Ted getting the job at the grocery store might be my favorite bits. Mark Wahlberg's character gets dangerously close to unlikable--I liked it better when he was playing it straight as opposed to trying to make his girlfriend laugh by acting like he was twelve. I know that was the point, but I thought they showed it better through his lack of ambition than his childish humor. The subplot with the kidnapper and his kid doesn't pay off except for the scenes in their home. The chase at the end and the wrap up had some good lines by Ted, but felt too much like a thousand other movies to be interesting. Ted himself looked amazing-- as accomplished as anything in CG or animation. However, I found myself really wishing someone else had done the voice. It was distracting that he sounded so much like another well known character. I think he needed his own unique sound, but that seems to be less of a problem as I rewatch it over. I would definitely check out a Ted part 2. I don't know Ted's lines were all in the script or if the voice actor did a lot of improvising, but his dialog was the highlight and what kept the whole thing together. Also, I'd like to see Joel McHale as this sleazy villain in every movie from now on. 6 out of 10.