If you worry that Ted’s premise will wear itself out, you are in for a pleasant surprise. Focusing on a raggedy teddy bear that has magically sprung to life, Ted has a charm you just can’t resist, no matter how hard you try. This profane little party animal will also surprise you with his humility he demonstrates late in the game, something I was not expecting at all but ended up really getting into. Yet the magic of Ted comes from the way that MacFarlane manages to work his pop culture referencing gags into a live action film and for the first time, making it seem like there was some actual thought behind all those geeky references.

On Christmas day, 1985, young Boston outcast John Bennet (Played by Bretton Manley) makes a wish that the cuddly teddy bear he received Christmas morning would come to life and be his best friend forever. John wakes up the next day and realizes that his wish has come true. After horrifying his parents with his creepy new buddy, John and “Teddy” scamper off to conqueror the neighborhood. Teddy or Ted (Voiced by Seth MacFarlane), as he quickly becomes fond of, begins to catch the attention of the media and he rises to be a huge sensation across America. The fame fades and the years pass with Ted getting into trouble here and there. We soon come to present day where Ted and John (Played by Mark Wahlberg) are still shacking up together, living in a cloud of marijuana smoke and half-consumed beers. John works a dead end job at a car rental company but he still manages to get by. John is in a happy relationship with the sweet Lori (Played by Mila Kunis), who is forgiving of John’s loser lifestyle and beams at every moment they have together. Yet on their fourth anniversary, John fails to purpose to Lori, forcing her to demand that John pick her or Ted. John begins trying to grow up for Lori but the raucous Ted makes that a difficult task, especially when he gets his own apartment. Ted also finds himself harassed by a bizarre father (Played by Giovanni Ribisi) and his overweight son, who will stop at nothing to make Ted a part of their family.

It’s not hard to see what MacFarlane is saying with Ted, as he presents a man-child who just can’t let go of his teddy bear (or his free spirited youth, if we are going to identify the metaphor). Only when the man-child lets go of that teddy bear, will he truly be a man for his gushing gal pal. After some recently iffy starring roles, Wahlberg is back on track speaking through a thick Bahston accent and trading droll geek dialogue with the sexy Kunis, who couldn’t seem more at home here. The two work great together, making you wonder why nobody has tried pairing them up before. Every time you think John has finally gotten on the right track, in crashes the vulgar best buddy to rip him away from his adult responsibilities. Before separating, Ted and John would plant themselves on their sofa, rip bongs, and drone on and on about why Flash Gordon is the best movie ever made. When Ted gets his own place, things really spin wildly out of control into booze-filled blowouts that have them doing cocaine with one of their idols (I won’t spoil the surprise). Yet it was those little moments between John and Lori that forces some of the stuffing over in Ted and makes way for a human heart.

When we aren’t going “awwww” over John and Lori, you will be doubled over laughing over the slovenly title character as he curses his way into your heart. He ends up becoming a new pop culture icon himself! Ted is a skillfully illustrated little CGI creation that has been carefully fleshed out to make us never grow tired of his reckless, foul-mouthed behavior. Despite the fact he is a computer image, he really holds the screen, making us cease to see him as an expensive animation and view him more as a flesh and blood character. It helps that MacFarlane stuffs him with quite a bit of emotion that he smartly reveals at just the right time. When Ted realizes the damage he has done to John and Lori’s relationship, he goes above and beyond to really help his buddy out, actually realizing that he has been a horse’s ass and admitting it. This isn’t a fast one pulled by MacFarlane (thankfully). I kept waiting for Ted to revert back to being an asshole, and while he does in a way (he is more smartass than asshole), this character actually does undergo a major metamorphosis even before the final chase sequence is thrown in to for the hell of it.

Ted does come with a few rips and tears in his matted little body, mostly from the half-conceived weirdo father and his even bigger weirdo son, who are supposed to be the villains in all of this. Ribisi’s Donny is game to get freaky and he sure does in the final stretch, but Ted could have been a really great movie without his character being on board. His son does provide one of the film’s funnier one-liners but it doesn’t justify their inclusion. Without them, this comedy could have been fifteen minutes shorter and all the better for it. Community’s Joel McHale shows up as Lori’s frisky boss who constantly tries to impress her with all of his money. He quietly steals the show from everybody else and quite frankly, there wasn’t enough of him in the film. Ted also features a handful of other celebrity cameos that mirror MacFarlane’s fascination with random pop culture referencing. Don’t get me wrong, they are pretty clever and they will definitely catch you off guard. Another inspired decision by MacFarlane is having Patrick Stewart acting as the storybook narrator who goes off on a hilarious rant about how bad 2006’s Superman Returns was.

Another flaw that really bothered me in the opening half of Ted was the way that MacFarlane would undercut his own jokes. He would deliver a good one, think he was on a role, and then go too far with it, sucking the laughs right out of the moment. It happens a number of times near the beginning, sending Ted into a slight tailspin early on. Luckily, MacFarlane rebounds and the second half doesn’t have a dull moment. Overall, it is great to see MacFarlane showing a bit of range with Ted. After making millions off of rehashing the same material with slightly different characters, MacFarlane proves he could be a comedic force to reckon with on the big screen. He can do crass with the big boys and he can tell jokes until it hurts. If you were looking for another reason to see Ted, check it out for the chemistry between Kunis and Wahlberg, a pairing that I hope to see on the big screen again sometime. Even if you’re not a fan of MacFarlane’s television work, there is still much to enjoy in Ted. Plus, you have to give MacFarlane credit for producing a summer comedy that is worthy of the ten bucks you will spend on it.

Grade: B

Mark Wahlberg plays Chris, a former drug smuggler who must revert back to a life of crime when his brother-in-law (Caleb Landry Jones) botches a drug deal for his ruthless boss (Giovanni Ribisi). To settle the debt, Wahlberg’s character assembles a team of crooks and does what he does best: smuggling contraband.

Icelandic director Baltasar Kormàkur seems like a pretty inspired choice for a flick that seems so simple and could have easily been done by a schmuck like Joel Schumacher or someone else of that kind. However, it doesn’t matter who the director may be, it still needs to work which is something this film kind of does and doesn’t do.

Kormàkur starts this story off pretty well with just the right amount of mystery, energy, and suspense to fill the air. The plot does take its time getting to where it has to go but the action scenes, when they come, are very well-done. Notice how I said ‘when they come’. Still though, they are used to actually to move this plot along and not just used as an action flick device that we usually come-and-get. Also, I love heist films so going into this, I wasn’t expecting much else other than some really cool and tricky heists which is what this film provided enough to satisfy me and keep me guessing.

The problem with most of these action scenes, as fun and exciting as they truly may be, for some reason it’s filmed with the annoying shaky-cam that we always see and hate, but is used to create a feeling here that doesn’t work. Whenever action hits this flick, the camera always moves around at a rapid and paranoid pace, as if it kept constantly looking around each corner, making sure not to get caught pulling off the heist itself. The shaky-cam is obviously something I hate no matter what the film may be, but here it didn’t seem needed considering how slick the action sequences are in the first place.

I also think another problem with this film is that for some reason the direction and screen-writing never really seem on the right page at all. The film is marketed as a silly and dumb action flick but it’s a lot much more smarter than that and sometimes teeters on drama. When I mean drama though, I mean the kind of drama where they try to really discuss some real issues about family, betrayal, and alcoholism. Let me remind you, I am talking about the film called‘Contraband’. The film could have honestly been a thriller, heist, drama, and action flick but for some reason, the film doesn’t know how to jell all of that together in the right way in order for it to seem reasonable and not so uneven. It also doesn’t help that the plot stops and starts so many times to the point of where I just wanted the damn boat that they were in to blow up just for the action to stay constant.

Mark Wahlberg is pretty reliable as an actor here to pull of this good-guy role as Chris, to where it isn’t an obvious attempt at making a former criminal seem like a hero. Actually, he doesn’t really do much here that we haven’t seen him do already but watching Wahlberg play in his comfort zone isn’t so bad in the first place. Kate Beckinsale plays his wife, Kate, and she really does try to give some weight to her character but she doesn’t really do much here and just comes off as a plot device for Chris to have a race-against-the-clock situation.

Giovanni Ribisi seems like a strange choice for the villainous role here as the thug Tim Briggs, but he’s actually very good with his eccentric and sometimes crazy acting style to make this bad guy a bit more menacing than I was expecting, and always entertaining; Ben Foster is also great as Sebastian, Chris’s best friend, who has a battle with alcoholism and always strides in these kind of roles; and it was also nice to see J.K. Simmons doing a role that was humorous but also never made you forget that he was a total dick-head as Captain Camp.

Consensus: Contraband features many problems with its script, tone, and annoying camera issues, but the cast somehow rise above the material and make this crime/thriller/action/heist/drama flick a very entertaining, if flawed one to say the least. But hey, it’s January and I was at least entertained rather than feeling depressed.

6.5/10=Rental!!

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For more ways to see Dan’s writing, check out his website  Dan The Man Movie Reviews

You can follow him on Twitter @DantheMan610

In The Theater

New Options

Man On The Ledge – Sam Worthington’s everywhere lately, and although the concept of having a movie centering around a person standing in one spot, I was pleasantly surprised by PHONE BOOTH, and the previews I’ve seen for this flick make it look like there’s considerably more depth to this plot than meets the eye. Time will tell, but there’s at least six discernible characters from the trailer, which is promising. Verdict: Wait a week to hear what the critics say before viewing.

The Grey – Liam Neeson is great in movies where he gets to play a bad-ass character, so at this point it only comes down to whether or not you like survivalist flicks, or if the thought of watching him beat the hell out of wolves bothers you. Verdict: Probably the safest bet out of any of the new movies this weekend to be worth your money.

One For The Money – Even though she’s hot and does alright with humor, Katherine Heigl flicks don’t always work well for guys. It’ll probably be acceptable to watch with a significant other who wants a chick flick at some point, but it’s doubtful that it’s going to be a movie on anyone’s “must see” list. Verdict: Wait until someone forces you to see it.

Still Around

Underworld Awakenings – It may have won the box office last weekend, but it’s getting sub-par reviews. As in, 30% on Rotten Tomatoes. If you’ve seen the other three flicks and didn’t catch it  last weekend, I’m guessing you’ll see this one – assuming the last one didn’t sour you on the series. Verdict: Probably some better options.

Haywire – This debuted in sixth place last weekend and I wouldn’t be surprised if it hopped up into the top 3 despite there being three new flicks hitting the box office this week. It’s getting good reviews (80% Fresh) and has a good cast. Verdict: If it comes down to Liam Neeson kicking ass or Gina Carano, I think the choice is easily in the former MMA Champ’s favor.

Gina Carano and Michael Fassbender in HAYWIRE

Red Tails – the previews make it look cool, but the reviews speak otherwise.  Verdict: Wait until you’ve seen the others on this list that sound interesting.

Contraband – Mediocre reviews for a movie whose previews don’t make it look special at all. Verdict: I’m not sure if anyone’s really still considering checking out this movie.

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol or Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows – neither of these films will probably be in the top 10 after this weekend, and they’ve both made boat loads of money. Verdict: Everyone else has probably already seen it and talking about it would probably include “you just saw that?!” so you may as well wait for DVD unless NOTHING else strikes your fancy.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – it’s a great flick, which is the only reason it’s on my list. Verdict: If you didn’t see it yet, you should. It does have an uncomfortable scene in it, so be careful about who you attend it with.

The Artist – It’s getting tons of great reviews, and there’s probably a reason for that. Verdict: If silent, black & white flicks don’t scare you off, see it.

On DVD

50/50 – the premise might be somewhat depressing, but there’s no doubt that it’s going to be entertaining and probably a little uplifting.  It’s near the top of my list of upcoming rentals.

Real Steal -A feel good movie essentially taking Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots to the big screen? I doubt that anyone reading this is without a pre-formed opinion on it. If you wanted to watch it, you probably already did.

Paranormal Activity 3 – If this series appeals to you, then you’re one of the many many people who saw it in the theater. Judging from the ending, I’m guessing not many of you will be renting it.

Box Office Top 10:

1. Transformers: Dark of the Moon ($97.5)

2. Cars 2 ($26.17)

3. Bad Teacher ($14.5)

4. Larry Crowne ($13.1)

5. Super 8 ($7.8)

6. Monte Carlo ($7.4)

7. Green Lantern ($6.5)

8. Mr Popper’s Penguins ($5.45)

9. Bridesmaids ($3.65)

10. Midnight in Paris ($3.56)

In its first weekend in the theater, the third Transformers installment has recouped 80% of its budget, a huge success considering its budget was nearly $200 M. In comparison, Cars 2 had a similar budget, and it has yet to recoup 60% of its budget.

Bad Teacher has already tripled its budget in earnings, reaching $60 M in two weeks while having only spent $20 to create. Super 8 has more than doubled its $50 M budget in earnings, having surpassed $108 M in four weeks.

Green Lantern is likely to be considered a huge failure, having only earned back half of its $200 M budget, pulling in $102 M in three weeks.

The biggest earners of the summer thus far are The Hangover Part II (three-times its $80 M budget in six weeks) and Bridesmaids (approaching 5 times its $32.5 M budget after 8 weeks in the theater).

Source: BoxOfficeMojo.com

Non-Financial News

The second live-action G.I. Joe film keeps adding members to its cast. Dwayne Johnson has confirmed (through IGN) the growing rumor that he will portray Roadblock in the film, and now Hollywood Reporter is saying Wu-Tang Clan member RZA will also have a role. Likely the most exciting news is from Deadline, which is reporting that Adrianne Palicki will portray Lady Jaye in the sequel, directed by Jon Chu. According to SpinOff, Bruce Willis is also being considered for a part in the film.

Jo Blo has information about Ridley Scott’s upcoming project, which may or may not be a prequel to Alien. In addition to Michael Fassbender (X-MEN: FIRST CLASS), Charlieze Theron, Guy Pearce and Idris Elba, we now know that Ben Foster (3:10 TO YUMA, X-Men: The Last Stand, ALPHA DOG) will be part of the cast.

Adam McKay, the co-creator of FunnyOrDie.com, is reuniting Mark Wahlberg with Will Ferrell in the upcoming comedy THREE MISSISSIPPI. The story surrounds a yearly Thanksgiving Day backyard football game and will co-star Alec Baldwin and potentially Jeremy Renner. (Source: Collider)

With all the companies reportedly deciding against Comic-Con attendance, one of Hollywood’s bigger names is reportedly going to attend for the first time in nearly 20 years. Francis Ford Coppola, who attended in 1992 to promote Bram Stoker’s Dracula, will return to Comic-Con o promote his upcoming project TWIXT. The legendary film maker describes the film as “one part Gothic romance, one part personal film, and one part the kind of horror film that began my career“. (Source: Deadline)

Just when you it seemed like Hollywood was running out of ideas, SpinOff is reporting that another Disney theme park ride is getting the translation to the big screen. First it was Pirates of the Caribbean, and now it’s Matterhorn. THE HILL, the tentative name for the film, has its tie in reportedly through the Yeti creature involved in the Disney ride.

Dodgeball fans are likely to be happy to hear that Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn will once again work together. Collider reports that they will co-star in NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, a comedy directed by Akiva Schaffer (HOT ROD, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE).