A comedy that'll corrupt you - in a good way

Rating: 8/10 (28 September 2012)

When my brother walked into our local multiplex two weeks ago to see Ted, he thought it was going to be a Disney film. I can tell you now that Ted is many things: a charming fantasy about a boy's Christmas wish coming true; a bromance; and an anti rom-com, but it is most definitely not a Disney film.
Comedy isn't a film genre that I like to gamble my money away on very often. In fact, the last comedy I saw on the cinema was Tropic Thunder back in 2008. However, I'd read and heard nothing but praise for Seth MacFarlane's feature-length directorial debut and had, unlike my brother, watched a few episodes of 'Family Guy'. So, I went in with relatively high expectations - and Ted delivered.
The film begins with Mark Wahlberg's outcast character, John Bennett, when young, making a Christmas wish that his teddy bear will come to life. Sure enough, he wakes up the next morning to a walking, talking bear named Ted (MacFarlane), who immediately professes his eternal friendship to John. You have to suspend your disbelief a fair bit: Ted just is. Just go with it.
Fast forward a quarter of a century and John and Ted are best pals of the Simon Pegg-Nick Frost ilk, spending most of their time watching Flash Gordon, smoking cannabis (or something) and generally enjoying a life of zero ambition and responsibility. Their care-free existence is threatened, however, when John's girlfriend (Mila Kunis), her patience having been pushed to the brink, gives him a simple ultimatum: Ted or her. Throw in a very creepy Giovanni Ribisi, who plays the villain, and what has to be one of the best cameos I've ever seen from Sam J. Jones, and you're left with a highly entertaining film.
Ted succeeds where so many "comedies" fail, in that it's crammed full of quality jokes that make you laugh, as well as moments that might - just might - bring tears to your eyes. The premise is amusing enough on its own without MacFarlane's brilliant one-liners, the edgy sexual humour, and eclectic pop culture references. In addition to Sam J. Jones, there are surprising cameos from actors like Tom Skerritt and hilarious, deadpan narrative interludes by Patrick Stewart, all of which combine to give Ted an apparent seal of approval from Hollywood itself. Either that or Seth MacFarlane just has friends in high places.
'Bizarre' is a fitting word to sum up Ted. True, it's a little formulaic in places - and increasingly so towards the end - but the overall sense of randomness is what you'll hopefully walk away with. Whether it's the film's silky soundtrack or its many homage sequences, Ted oozes with the maturity of a more experienced director. As you'd expect from anything Seth MacFarlane touches, most of the comedy crosses a lot of lines, which will undoubtedly offend some viewers, but this gives Ted a competitive edge over less risqué films, in my opinion. It's strange to think that gross-out vulgarity can have a place in a genuine and touching tale of unbreakable friendship. There's just something refreshing about a film that sets itself no limits in terms of what it can and can't do to show you a great time.
As for performances, MacFarlane clearly steals the show, but Wahlberg and Kunis more than hold their own in his presence. It's perhaps a rather introverted performance Marky Mark gives, but this suits both the film and his character.
When I got home after watching Ted, I felt somehow corrupted by that teddy bear's playful influence - but in a good way. This expressed itself in my shoddy parking job on the driveway. Perhaps we all need a Ted in our lives: fluffy, physical manifestations of our IDs that only want us to have fun.
The only reason why I haven't awarded Ted full marks is because - just like an episode of 'Family Guy' - I don't think I would enjoy the jokes as much second time around. This is an inherent flaw of the comedy genre as a whole, though, not a specific criticism of MacFarlane's film, which is by far the funniest I've seen in ages.