SETH MacFarlane returns as writer, director and voice of the teddy bear in Ted 2.
This follow-up to the highest-grossing original R rated comedy ever, probably exists only because of the amount of money the first movie made.
The adorable yet foul-mouthed bear of the first film, voiced by MacFarlane, will return, this time with a wife in tow, but still best friends with John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg).
This sequel releases worldwide today, not leaving any time for print media to get reviews in on time.
A recent movie poster taking its cue from the Flash Gordon movie is clever, but does suggest we are going to get more of the same, since the ’80s action film was a big theme in the first Ted.
Mila Kunis was pregnant, so could not reprise her role as Lori, John Bennet’s partner. So, Wahlberg’s character is again a bachelor, but still living the good life. Ted has settled down with the girl of his dreams, Tami-Lynn (Jessica Barth), but they are having a tough time and decide to have a baby.
However, Ted has to prove he is not property but a person, so expect lots of legal proceedings in addition to the crude content and profanities that marked the first film. This sequel has a 16 DL age restriction due to crude content and language. – Film Writer
Wahlberg back to boogie with a bear behaving badly
The international press junket for Ted 2 was held in London. Mark Wahlberg spoke about reprising his surprise hit role as John Bennett in Seth MacFarlane’s foul-mouthed comedy, Ted.
How did you get involved in the first film?
It was one of those things which has only happened to me twice, the other time being Boogie Nights. My agent happened to represent the writer and director and was pushing the project. Because of the subject matter and how difficult it was to pitch, I was reluctant to even read the script. It was only when I was talking to another agent about a project I was producing and he urged me to read it, saying it was one of the best scripts he’d read, that I decided to give it a try.
What surprised me was that about 20 pages into the script, you forget that this is about a teddy bear and just see it as a great buddy comedy. After that, I wanted to know how they’d make the character of Ted work. They had already done a test shoot so they showed me some of the footage of the bear talking. Then when I met Seth, we hit it off and I said I would do the film.
Have your kids seen the first film?
They can’t see it! They’re upset because they want to. They’ve seen the fight between me and Ted from the first movie without sound, but the language is too much for them.
How have the characters changed since we saw them in the first film? My character John is no longer married and reluctant to start another relationship after having had his heart broken, despite Ted’s frustration when he passes up opportunities with attractive women. Ted is now married to Tami-Lynn and wants to have a baby. When they find out that he’s incapable of impregnating her, they try various things. I don’t want to give too much away, but these things include John and Ted trying to steal Tom Brady’s sperm, John becoming a sperm donor and then also attempts at adoption, where Ted must prove that he is a person to the State of Massachusetts.
Tell us a bit about the process of acting opposite a co-star who isn’t there in real life.
I think some people who haven’t acted in this sort of situation before can be a little hesitant to commit fully, but I have always felt very comfortable and natural with it. Even more so for this film, as I trust Seth and I know the process from the first film.
Are there any moments in Ted 2 which were particularly memorable to film?
I don’t like to sing or dance in public or on camera. So, of course, I have to do both in this movie as well as the original. In the first film, I just danced with Lori, but in this one I dance with Ted at his wedding. It was this big dance number to the Thunder Buddies song, complete with a big band and 500 extras. So I’m in a tuxedo trying to do this routine in front of this crowd, pretending as if Ted is doing it with me. It’s just a different style. I might have been more comfortable rapping.
Do you improvise at all in these films?
We improvise and play around a bit, but they do such a great job of nailing the script that most of the time it’s pretty much what is on the page. There were a few things that I didn’t want to say because of my spirituality, so I spoke to Seth and he just had Ted say them. The film might be offensive to some people, but I don’t take it too seriously and, hopefully, other people will also know it’s just in fun.
What does Ted 2 tell us about guys and their teddies? I feel it’s more about two guys trying to hold on to their childhood or teen-age years and being reluctant to grow up. In the first film, it was about John’s struggle to balance his relationship with Lori and his friendship with his buddy. This is the next stage of that buddy relationship.
Universal Pictures
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To celebrate the nationwide release of Ted 2, Tonight is giving 5 lucky readers the opportunity to win a Ted 2 hamper.
Each hamper consists of a Ted 2 Teddy Bear and a Ted DVD. To stand a chance of winning, all you have to do is send your name, and contact details, to [email protected]. Please put Ted 2 competition in the subject bar.
The competition closes on Wednesday, 1 July, at midnight. Only the winners will be contacted.