Last time we saw Ted, he was just recovering from a run-in with the psychotic Donnie (Giovanni Ribisi; Avatar) and watched his best friend John wed his girlfriend Lori (Mila Kunis; That 70's Show),with the officiant being none other than Sam Jones (Flash Gordon). Ted 2 opens with another wedding, and this time it is Ted's turn to marry his girlfriend Tami-Lynn (Jessica Barth; Next ) and hopefully live happily ever after.
However, as with everything in the world of Ted, this is far from the case. Between fights with Tami-Lynn, the complications of having a child when you are teddy bear, and trying to fight for his person-hood, Ted completes these tasks with all the hijinks and buddy moments you have come to know and love from the original film.
All the humor in the world doesn't make a film good if it doesn't have strong story and actors to back it up. Luckily, Ted 2 excels in this area. Ted's creator and voice talent Seth MacFarlane (A Million Ways to Die in the West), pens a script that is miles better than the original one, adding a semblance of plot and purpose to our hero's antics. Mark Walberg easily slips back into the role of John Bennett and adds some extra emotions to his character, and while Mila Kunis had to be written out of the film due to personal issues, Amanda Seyfried (A Million Ways to Die in the West) expertly fills the void and shines through in the finished film. She does an excellent job and Kunis is barely missed because if it.
Aside from the theatrical version of the film, Ted 2's Blu-ray release also includes an extended edition with 10 more minutes added to the film. After viewing both versions, it appears that the editors were correct in removing these extra scenes from the theatrical release. The jokes do not add much to the story and actually slow down the pacing of the film. I suggest sticking with the tried and true when watching the Blu-ray and forget the longer version.
The 1080p transfer of Ted 2 truly shines through. The colors are crisp and vibrant and flesh tones are neutral in color. Black levels are spot on and at no time is there any artifcating. Combine this with near-perfect DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack and you have an enjoyable viewing experience that keeps you focused on the comedic moments played on the scene versus being taken out of it by a horrible transfer.
The extras included in the release are a mixed bag. Universal has chosen to included the usual digital copy that can be redeemed on iTunes and Ultraviolet, as well as deleted scenes, a non-humorous gag reel, and a few behind-the-scenes featurettes: "Thunder Buddies 4 Lyfe", "Roadtrip", a look at the creation of New York Comic Con used in the filming of Ted 2, The opening dance number "making of", and a feature showcasing all cameo appearances that appear throughout the film.
While the original Ted was a good introduction to a universe that has a talking teddy bear, Ted 2 fully fleshes out the world, explores some social commentary, and provides some gut busting laughs at the same time.
