Ted makes you laugh "hahdar" than you have laughed in a long time, while still maintaining relate-ability

Rating: 8/10 (29 June 2012)

I do not give 8 out of 10's often; I am not trying to seem like a pompous ass, even though I'm listening to Kate Bush singing "Wow" as I write this review, but 8 out of 10's are hard to come by. Well, at least they're hard to come by with the scale that I grade movies on. And 8 out of 10 comedies are even harder to come by due to the recycled nature of all 2000's interludes post-Anchorman/Dodgeball. That being said, Ted deserves this honor (if you can call it that) wholeheartedly and without question. And here's why.
"Stupid comedies" with "stupid humor" have been a part of American culture since Judd Apatow first took his directing reigns and graced the silver screen with his comedic genius in 2004 and Ted certainly falls into the category of "stupid humor" - at least at times. But how does Ted separate itself from everything that has been done and is already shopworn? Enter Seth MacFarlane, the brains and voice acting behind the hit TV show Family guy who not only directs this work of art with class and ingenuity but also adds in some Family Guy-esque humor, a brand that we are all so familiar with, in all the right places.
Everything you need to know from this movie you can find out from the preview, therefore a summary (and spoilers) is not necessary. Mark Wahlberg plays John, a 35-year-old rental car center employee who has a stuffed Teddy bear and a girlfriend who clearly deserves better in Mila Kunis. That being said the humor starts as soon as the beginning credits roll and doesn't die down until the conflict of the movie. Only a stone-faced GTA mom will sit through this movie and never donate a smirk. The plot is filled with hilarious one-liners and quick-and-quirky comedy that will have you in stitches; that already divulged comedy is peppered into an actual plot, stellar acting performances (including Ted's) and completely random and unexpected spouts of hilarity.
Although the plot is actual, it isn't strong. Clichéd is the best word for it, but I was not expecting a Stephen King or Martin Scorsese screenplay. The movie follows a basic outline of background information, setting-up of plot, conflict, rising action, falling action, and climax. And the climax will make anybody who is a child at heart tear up - yes, I had to hold back tears because of that oh-so-wonderful Teddy bear. The plot adds onto the character "models" nicely and the audience develops a care for the characters, something that is missing from almost every recent film and is an absolute afterthought when making comedies. The biggest thing that makes you care about one particular character in this movie is the fact that he's a Teddy bear. Simple as that. He's adorable, funny, and despite having a 38-year-old Connecticut man's voice, cute.
Mark Wahlberg once again steps out of his "cop, fightah, cop" comfort zone and plays a comedic and sometimes awkward funny-man, similar to the one he played in The Other Guys. Oops, he was a cop in that one too. Regardless, his performance deserves mention, as does Kunis's. She plays a stunning girlfriend extremely well and the chemistry between her and Wahlberg is a nice touch to the playful plot. However, Ted steals the show despite being 100% CGI. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone for the movie is titled after the fuzz ball. The emotions evoked in the bear's face really display a forward progress of computer generated graphics and the fact that Wahlberg had to talk to, essentially, nothing for the length of the movie is respectable.
What else do you need to know? You don't need to be a certain age to enjoy this movie. All you need is an open heart and a soft spot for stuffed animals. And the latter is optional. Although the comedy dies down within the second half of the movie, the twists kick in and it's a stellar ride to the end. Few smudges, on an otherwise paramount comedic performance, make Ted an enjoyable film for anyone. You will want to dig up your old Teddy bear after watching this movie - I did.
+3 for comedy gold
+3 for Ted himself
+1 for Wahlberg/Kunis
+1 for inclusion of plot