‘Ted’ delivers, cements MacFarlane’s genius

Seth MacFarlane has a formula, and it works.

Writer of hit television animated comedies "Family Guy" and "American Dad," MacFarlane has taken his talents to Hollywood for an entirely new venture: a full-length feature film simply titled "Ted."

"Ted" tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a lonely Massachusetts native whose childhood is dominated by his singular friend, his teddy bear, Ted.

While Ted is like other teddy bears in that he is brown, fuzzy and exceptionally cute, he is unlike these same stuffed creatures in other key ways.

For instance, he can talk.

And walk.

And curse, and smoke pot and invite prostitutes home for a friendly game of Truth or Dare.

Just as one would expect from MacFarlane, "Ted" provides an abundance of raunchy humor and perverse situations, but all of this is made exceptionally effective through the snuggly title character.

Watching somebody sing karaoke to Hootie & the Blowfish in an exaggerated, over-the-top ’90s style is pretty funny, but watching a drunk teddy bear do the same is positively hysterical.

Such is "Ted" MacFarlane took an average coming-of-age plot and made it phenomenal through his brilliant comedic sense and sensational dialogue.

His ability to craft an ordinary situation into something funny and noteworthy has made him one of our generation’s premier comedy writers, and his successful run in this realm continues with "Ted."

For the film’s 100 minutes, the audience was laughing nonstop. I legitimately missed some scenes of the movie because I was still laughing from the previous scene – it’s just that funny.

While fans of MacFarlane’s previous work will undoubtedly find happiness and elation in "Ted," the film’s live acting and R-rating allow for comedy that shows like "Family Guy" cannot pull off.

MacFarlane expertly uses Ted as an uncensored and unfiltered device for his comedy, and the results are simply stellar.

"Ted" may change your perception of that cuddly and innocent teddy bear you so loved as a child, but you will be too hungover from laughs to care.

If you are interested in the comedy event of the summer (and probably the year), a visit with a talking teddy bear is in order.