“Overindulgent, raunchy and soulless comedy about a quest
for personhood.”
Similar to the first film, Ted 2 capitalizes on profanities, sex, drugs and even violence to
bring humor. As a sort of upgrade, the movie attempts to incorporate humanity factor as Ted faces a legal battle to acquire “personhood.”
Ted 2 opens with
a yesteryear-themed wedding between Ted (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) and his
girlfriend from the first movie, hottie grocery cashier Tami-Lynn (Jessica Barth). One year
later, the otherwise idyllic marriage turns sour and the couple starts to
fight. Impractically, Ted decides to have a baby with her to save their marriage.
Ted identifies some guys as his potential sperm donor, including Sam J. Jones
and Tom Brady as themselves in cameo roles, but eventually, it is his human bestfriend
John (Mark Wahlberg) who spills the fluid. It is at this point that we learn
that John is now divorced and has developed an addiction to all forms of porns.
Later, Tami is discovered to be infertile during a test and
having no other better choice, Ted opts for adoption. However, Tami’s drug conviction
past and Ted’s being non-human are found to be grounds for denying their
application for adoption. Worse, their action sets a chain of misfortunes for
Ted, such as being laid off from his work and nullification of his marriage. Enlisting
the pro bono services of novice lawyer Samantha L. Jackson (Amanda Seyfried),
Ted fights a civil right case granting him a person. Still, the case fails and
Ted is judged to be a “property.” Afterwards, the trio (Ted, John and Sam)
embarks on a journey to connect with Atty. Patrick Meighan (Morgan Freeman) and
ask his assistance for their appeal. Along the way, there are more celebrity cameos, a road trip disaster,
and a New York City Comic-Con.
Undeniably, director Seth MacFarlane has natural comic
talents and despite its vulgarity, his 2012 film Ted was a runaway winner. Now, he returns with a sequel and
continues to execute his skills as Ted 2
has plenty of mighty laughs. MacFarlane also added some parodies and references
to movies and television series like De Niro’s Raging Bull, Roots, Law and Order, and Fifty Shades of Grey (or
Bear). Porn gags and celebrity cameo
jokes are abundant and they are quite funny, specifically that with Liam
Neeson. The music and/or dance sequences in the film are also must-watch.
Yet, the film’s humor sometimes appears disreputable and offensive,
especially jokes alluding to race, drugs, gay and even rape. In particular, Guy
(Patrick Warburton) and his boyfriend Rick (Michael Dorn) bullying and
assaulting people at the New York Comic-Con is bad humor. Violence is not fun
and it is certainly uncalled for.
There is another side plot in the film about Donny (Giovanni Ribisi), Ted’s nemesis in the first movie. Working as a janitor at the teddy bear
manufacturer Hasbro, Donny convinces head Tom Jessup (John Carroll Lynch) to
kidnap Ted and examine his insides so that the company can create toys similar
to him. Following the same kidnapping design of the previous film, this subplot
feels unnecessary and forced. It is only a distraction and its contribution to
the movie is only to impair John. It deadens the entire story and the movie
would have been more affecting and satisfying if it focused more on the legal
battle.
Ted 2, though interesting
and engaging, pales in comparison to the first film. Containing less laughs,
its humor also strikes repugnant countless times. It tries to teach about
humanity but it is heartless and soulless itself. Nonetheless, the true good
point about it is its easy and heart-warming bromance between Ted and John.
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