Ted

Ted is a new movie from Family Guy creator, Seth MacFarlane. Starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis and set in Wahlberg's native Boston, MA. It's MacFarlane's first live action effort, although it does include a major animated aspect, that being one of the major characters, Ted. Ted is a magical teddy bear, who through a childhood wish comes to life to have a very tumultuous, Lindsay Lohan-esque tabloid laden upbringing, which plays out during the first scenes of the movie. MacFarlane, Wellesley Wild, and Alec Sulkin the auteur's of this screenplay, do a mighty fine job of establishing a frame of reference for the completely impossible notion that stuffed animals can come to life. Throughout the movie, they embrace this by depicting reaction's from other characters in the movie to Ted's presence and demeanor, in a very raw, truthful manner.

Living in Boston, I'm a bit biased by alot of scenes having everyday connections to places I visit and am around quite often, but the movie certainly plays well in this city and the city also serves as another character of the movie, with one specific reference to a nearby town drawing many laughs in the theater I viewed it in.

A common theme of MacFarlane's work is that he always pushes the limits of what is politically correct and just generally what is acceptable for off color jokes. In Ted, he's continued to push the envelope with that, drawing disdain from a non-profit benefiting ALS for a joke from the movie. Although, I think they have strong footing to supplant their comments, Ted is overall such a funny movie that without that joke, it's a must see.