Movie review: Ted 2

Newlyweds Tami-Lynn (Jessica Barth) and Ted want to start a family in Ted 2.

If you thought pitching Ted, a film about a pot-smoking slacker with a CGI talking teddy bear, to studio executives would have been interesting, then Ted 2 takes things to a whole new level.

In Ted 2 our foul-mouthed, perverted and politically incorrect furry friend gets married, tries to have a baby, and discovers he's legally defined as property rather than a person.

There seem to be no limits to how far creator Seth MacFarlane will push this madcap idea, but if you accept a toy can be wished to life then it's hardly a stretch that he would then marry his colleague, checkout girl Tami-Lynn (Jessica Barth). Right?

Everything you loved about Ted is in Ted 2. The sweet bromance between man-child John Bennett (Wahlberg) and Ted (voiced by MacFarlane) is still in full swing, with Ted trying to convince his thunder-buddy it's time to start dating again after his divorce from Lori. Patrick Stewart narrates again, while also returning are Patrick Warburton, and Giovanni Ribisi as Ted-stealing psycho Donny.

Plenty of new faces join the team and are happy to take the mickey out of themselves: from Jay Leno in a gay bathroom sex gag to an intense and paranoid Liam Neeson buying cereal. Amanda Seyfried is Ted's inexperienced pothead lawyer, who goes to court to fight for Ted's right to be a "person"; but she's not the only lawyer with a familiar face, Mad Men's John Slattery and Morgan Freeman also have their moment in court.

Amid the raunchy and borderline uncomfortable humour - that swipes at everyone from Bill Cosby to the Kardashians - there may be a message about how anyone with a heart and soul should be treated equally. But, perhaps more than the original, Ted 2 is really built around some great comedy gags MacFarlane and his writing team wanted to see on screen.

They're hilarious scenes, but the connections between them are often clunky and they feel a little more mean than last time. However, you can only admire MacFarlane's relentless commitment to crude, boundary-pushing comedy and swearing. Ted 2 is a case of been there, done that, mixed with some of the funniest gags you'll see this year.

Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Mark Wahlberg
Director: Seth MacFarlane Running Time: 116 mins
Rating: R16 (offensive language, drug use, sexual content that may offend)
Verdict: Fans of MacFarlane's puerile sense of humour will enjoy.

- TimeOut