Ted Nugent Announces New Full-Length Album Titled “The Music Made Me Do It”

Multi-platinum guitar legend Ted Nugent announces a new full-length album.
THE MUSIC MADE ME DO IT, due out Friday, November 9th via Round Hill Records.

The effort is Nugent’s first studio album in four years. The album features Greg Smith (Billy Joel, Alice Cooper, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow) on bass, Jason Hartless (Joe Lynn Turner, Mitch Ryder) on drums, and the Motor City Madman himself on lead guitar and vocals. Accompanying the CD is a Bonus DVD, LIVE AT FREEDOM HILL, an electrifying full-length concert captured at Freedom Hill Amphitheatre in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

In advance of the album’s release, Nugent has just released the live music video for title track, “The Music Made Me Do It”. The video was shot at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, California during Nugent’s summer tour and showcases the raw energy of his legendary live performances, offering a taste of the new studio material he recorded over the last year for the upcoming album, THE MUSIC MADE ME DO IT. To access the full album, THE MUSIC MADE ME DO IT, please click here. Please consider the album for feature and review coverage. Ted Nugent is available for interviews, please let me know if you would like to set something up.

Ted Nugent has carved a permanent place in rock n’ roll history as the ultimate guitar-shredding showman, selling more than 40 million albums and performing in excess of 6,700 (and counting!) high-octane live shows. As a budding musician, Nugent was strongly influenced by Chuck Berry and Bo Diddly, and knew he wanted to pursue that type of sound and attitude. Early bands, The Royal Highboys, and The Lourds, paved the way for the Amboy Dukes – and their psychedelic JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE MIND kicked young Ted’s career into hyper drive. The axe maniac soon broke out as a solo artist, where the guitarist’s prodigious talent, earshattering volume and over-the-top stage antics quickly earned him the moniker of Motor City Madman.

Cranking out hits like CAT SCRATCH FEVER, JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED, FREE FOR ALL and the iconic STRANGLEHOLD, Ted Nugent garnered international acclaim and truly hit his stride, becoming one of the top-grossing tour acts in America. His no-holds-barred career now spans six decades of multi-platinum hits. The ultimate Road Warrior, touring and recording continue at Ted’s breakneck pace. Nugent and his inimitable sound have been featured on VH1’s Behind the Music, A & E’s Biography and more. He was recently named Detroit’s Greatest Guitar Player of All Time by readers of MLive. For more information, please visit www.tednugent.com.

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Filed Under: Music, Music Headlines Tagged With: album, announces, fulllength, music, nugent, ted, ...

Film Review “Ted 2”

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Seth McFarlane and Amanda Seyfried
Directed by: Seth McFarlane
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 55 mins
Universal

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

When we last left our furry pal, Ted, he had just been rescued from a demented bear-napper by his best friend John. As the credits rolled, the future looked bright for the two pals. Fast forward three years….

As we reunite with Ted (McFarlane), we join him as he is about to be married to his cashier girlfriend Tami Lynn (Jessica Barth). With a service presided by none other than Flash Gordon (Sam J. Jones) himself, things should be swinging. But sadly, John (Wahlberg) is down in the dumps, having married and divorced Mila Kunis between films. Life continues to go on until, after some very hilarious mishaps trying to artificially conceive a child, Ted and Tami Lynn decide to adopt. This brings Ted to the attention of the authorities who have, until now, not bothered with him. However, now that he wants to be a parent, the state announces that Ted is property, not human, making him unable to adopt. John convinces Ted to take his matter to court and they hire brand new attorney Samantha L. Jackson. What will the verdict be?

As funny as the first film, though a little slow towards the end, “Ted 2” is everything you were probably expecting and more. Starting with the film’s lush, Busby Berkley-style musical opening, the film delivers surprise after surprise. Wahlberg is once again sweet and charming as John while McFarlane makes Ted the most lovable bear to hit the big screen since Winnie the Pooh got his head stuck in the Honey Pot. The supporting cast, including Patrick Warburton and Michael Dorn, get to have plenty of fun as well, as do the many stars making cameo appearances, including Jimmy Kimmel, Jay Leno and a very disturbing Liam Neeson, who will make you look at breakfast cereal in a whole other light! And for NFL fans, there’s a very funny bit with Tom Brady who, ironically, is having his suspension appeal heard this week. At least the guy has a sense of humor.

The laughs come free and easy and McFarlane paces them well. Again, the film does drag a little in the last hour but by then you can probably use a break from all the laughing you’ve done.

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Sam J. Jones reflects on “Flash Gordon”, “Ted” and plans for “Ted 2”

Sam J. Jones is best known for the lead role in the 1980 cult classic “Flash Gordon”. Sam recently appeared in the the Seth MacFarlane directed live-action film “Ted”, as himself and stole the show. Sam took out some time to chat with Media Mikes about his work on “Flash Gordon”, “Ted”, plans for “Ted 2 and his work in the security business.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you reflect on the fandom that surrounds “Flash Gordon” over 30 years since its release?
Sam J. Jones: It has been wonderful and is such a blessing. We filmed it in 1979, so that is 34 years ago and was released in Christmas of 1980. We are talking about three different generations here. It is amazing. It has had a good run and it has opened a lot of doors for me. I have traveled all over the world. It has even continued in the film “Ted”.

MG: Queen’s score in the film is so iconic, how do you feel that it works in the film?
SJ: It really complemented the film well. Queen was huge, obviously but it also opened up doors for them as well at the time. Combine their amazing soundtrack with the great visuals and you have a winner. All that creativity came together and produced this unforgettable visual experience.

MG: How often are you approached with people screaming “FLASH!! AAA-AAAHHH!!” and how do you respond?
SJ: Well, I get real close to them…then I head butt them [laughs]. No, it is fun it really is. Sometimes people walk by me on the street and don’t even say anything just scream and continue walking. They don’t even wait for a reaction. That sort of thing happens a lot.

MG: I wanted to ask about about you being originally signed up for seven “Gordon” sequels. Is that true?
SJ: I think it was a couple sequels at the time, yeah! Like anything else they decided not to pursue it. It has been optioned a couple of different times over the years with various development deals for a sequel, so hopefully that will happen soon. I would love to be apart of it again.

MG: Also can you talk about how your voice being dubbed over in the film?
SJ: We filmed the entire project in London, England and one week in Scotland. After filming you always have to go back and do ADR to fix the vocals. So I didn’t head back, I was working on other projects at the time. So they went ahead and got another actor to try and match my voice. It is what it is. I am sure next time I would rather find a way to get back there and do it myself.

MG: Tell us about how your role in “Ted” came about?
SJ: It is pretty simple, Seth MacFarlane called me and said that when he was eight years old he saw “Flash Gordon” and it changed his life. He knew then that he wanted to be a creative guy in the business and that was his inspiration. So he called and said he had this script called “Ted” and if I would be interested and I said “Of course”. At first, he wanted me to play myself but it turned out to be a parody of myself.

MG: What was it like getting back into those tights again after all those years?
SJ: It was fun. It was great working with the cast with Mark Walhberg, Mila Kunis and Patrick Warburton. Actually Patrick and I used to be in acting classes together, so it was good to see him again. It was Seth’s first time directing live-action and he did a fantastic job. He was always very prepared each day.

MG: Going from film business to security business, tell us about your current work?
SJ: It has been natural transition for me. I was a marine before I was an actor, so the background was there before I was in the movie business. So I got married and started having our five children and things slowed down a bit since there is a lot of downtime in the film business. So I wanted to fill that void, so I talked to my wife and decided to do that I was already trained in. I went and took some additional specialized training, actually the same as the Secret Service and the State Department. I started working the Los Angeles area, then I worked in Katrina and excelled in security operations. From there I got an invitation to move to San Diego to help run the Cross-Border Security Operations into Mexico. So that is what I have been doing for the past eight years now. I love it because when a film project comes up, I am able to drop everything and do the film. So it works out.

MG: “Ted 2” is planned for release Passover 2015, any word of a return for you?
SJ: Yeah, of course. Seth already asked me to do it. He mentioned that they will be filming in the Spring of 2014. So I can’t wait for that!

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Filed Under: Film Interviews, Interviews Tagged With: 2, flash, gordon, jones, plans, reflects, ...

Ted Nugent talks about "Rock N Roll Express" tour with REO Speedwagon and Styx

The Motor City Mad Man Ted Nugent is prepping to hit the road again as part of “The Midwest Rock ‘N Roll Express”. His notable tracks include “Stranglehold”, “Cat Scratch Fever”, “Wango Tango”, and “Great White Buffalo”. After the tours successful summer run Nugent, Styx and Reo Speedwagon are back together again to bring their legendary sounds to the masses. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with “The Nuge” about the upcoming tour and the possibility of a new Damn Yankee’s album.

Adam Lawton: What was it that first interested you being a part of the “Rock N Roll Express” Tour?
Ted Nugent: When you are fortunate to be blessed with a band of such gifted, passionate, gungho musicians like Mick Brown, Greg Smith & Derek St Holmes, you just know that the musical joy & adventure that is guaranteed every night is what dreams are made of. Magnify this with the accumulated energy, spirit & attitude of the REO & Styx boys, and how could anyone possibly turn it down.

AL: What are you personally most looking forward to about the second run of shows?
TN: What my band delivers every song, every concert, every night is the highest of highs. The raw animal celebration of our audiences creates a powerful force to reckon with, so every concert has a life of its own. Such forces drive me into uncharted territory on the guitar each night that is absolutely compelling and inspiring.

AL: Do you have anything different planned for the set this time out?
TN: We are still performing as many classics as we can squeeze in every night, but we are also reaching back for some deeper and more recent songs like QUEEN OF THE FOREST, CRAVE, TOOTH FANG & CLAW and FRED BEAR that are a riot to perform. Plus we are trying very hard to figure how we can get Mick to drive a golfcart onto the stage each night. That is so much fun.

AL: With all the recent legislation directed towards firearms and such will you be bringing the bow and arrow on stage for this run?
TN: Yes. My assault bow is such an interesting and always controversial topic of discussion and we know it to be a fascinating and always funny stage maneuver.

AL: Are there any new “Uncle Ted” projects in the works? Maybe something with Damn Yankees or a new solo album?
TN: I am creating wonderful fun pieces of music all the time, but the damn calendar is so constricting! You never know.

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Filed Under: Interviews, Music Interviews Tagged With: express, nugent, reo, rock, roll, speedwagon, ...

Blu-ray Review “Ted: Unrated”

Actors: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane
Directors: Seth MacFarlane
MPAA Rating: R / Unrated
Studio: Universal
Release Date: December 11, 2012
Run Time: 107 / 114 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Ted” may not be for everyone, but it doesn’t try to hide that fact either. It is in-your-face and up front. With all the superheroes flooding the theaters this past summer, this film was a nice relief. Seth MacFarlane has delivered yet again with this very hilarious and very R-rated comedy that still manages to have a lot of heart. This is his first time directing a feature and it is just what Hollywood was needing. So America, he no just hasn’t taken over TV with his three shows…he know is taken over Hollywood! The film is offense and really uses it’s R-rating well and doesn’t pussy out with its humor. Hopefully if you enjoyed it will leave you with the same “WTF” look that I had after watching.

This Blu-ray release comes with both the Unrated and Theatrical Versions of the film. The 107-minute theatrical cut actually get a nice improvement (and more rauchy comedy) added for its 114-minute unrated extended version of the film. As I wished the film was longer in the theaters, this extended cut is exactly what was needed. But at least they include both and give you the option. One of the best comedies of the year for sure. Congrats MacFarlane for giving Hollywood a kick in the ass!

I have been a “Family Guy” fan since day one..especially after it was canceled. I helped spread the word and even attended the live show with MacFarlane and cast in NYC when it was renewed. In the recent days though, I have went seperate ways with the show as I have lost the taste for its humor. MacFarlane has yet again won me over with this film and his winning ticket is Mark Wahlberg. He completely steps outside from his comfort zone and delivers a really funny performance. The CG effects are great with the rauchy and rude bear Ted, which is of course also voiced by master MacFarlane himself. I am looking for to what they come up with the “Ted 2″…you know it is coming!

Official Premise: Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane delivers his boundary-pushing humor to the outrageous comedy blockbuster that critics are calling ³hysterically funny!² (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone) John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) is a grown man whose cherished teddy bear was brought to life as the result of a childhood wishŠand hasn¹t left his side since. Can John¹s relationship with longtime girlfriend, Lori (Mila Kunis), move forward with his lovably profane buddy on his couch?

Universal delivers a sweet combo pack packing in a Blu-ray + DVD + UV Digital Copy included in this release.  I will be revisiting this film quite often thanks to this Ultraviolet digital streaming copy. “Ted” comes with a nice 1080p video transfer, which does well with what it has to work with. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track works great with the snappy dialogue and vulgar humor to ensure that you don’t miss a single joke.

The special features are a nice complement to this great film.  There is a highly recommend audio commentary track from Seth MacFarlane, co-writer Alec Sulkin and star Mark Wahlberg.  Informative and also funny, wish it had more Wahlberg though. There is 25 minute behind-the-scenes look into thee “The Making of Ted”, which covers all aspect. A little short but jam-packed. There is a short feature on shooting John and Ted’s fight scene in “Teddy Bear Scufflebrawl”. When it comes to comedies, always expect deleted scenes, there are fifteen deleted scenes.  They are short but worth checking out. If that is not enough there is another 10+ minutes of alternate takes and a hilarious gag reel included to finish off this release.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, review, ted, unrated

Bassist Ricky Phillips talks working with Styx, Reo Speedwagon and Ted Nugent

Ricky Phillips is no stranger to world of rock music. Over his 30+ year career Phillips has played bass for a number of successful groups. He is probably best known for holding down the low end for the legendary classic rock band Styx. Media Mikes had the chance to talk with Ricky recently about the bands current tour with Reo Speedwagon and Ted Nugent as well as about the bands recent Blu-Ray release titled “Styx: Grand Illusion/Pieces of Eight- Live”.

Adam Lawton: Can you give us some background on the bands current tour with Reo Speedwagon and Ted Nugent?
Ricky Phillips: Both Styx and Reo Speedwagon have some incredible history that goes way back. We are both from Illinois and have toured together before but this is the first one we have done together in about 3 or 4 years. We did do some one off shows here and there but the idea came up to put us together and have Ted Nugent open. It is sort of a collaboration of Mid-West rock bands. The attendance at these shows has just been amazing. When you go out each year you never know what the shows will be like. The first leg of the tour went well and was sort of business as usual. This second leg has been sold out every night which just blew us away. It’s really crazy how it’s caught on. This success may lead to us doing a similar tour sometime next year. The fans seem to really enjoy the line up and if you think about it each group is quite different so we are trying to put a different slant on mid-west rock.

AL: What has been the biggest difference in the crowds as of late?
RP: There are so many young people now that have discovered classic rock bands. They seem to be at a point in their music listening lives where they are looking for what came before. We are those guys. When I and the rest of the guys in the band were younger and at this point we were heavily influenced by the British music movement. From there we looked back and found artists like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. Guys like Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page were into these acts so we started searching them out as well. It is pretty cool seeing these new young faces as they watch and sing along. We have a great cross section of fans.

AL: Can you tell us about the DVD/Blu-Ray the band recently released?
RP: The “Styx: Grand Illusion/Pieces of Eight- Live” came out really great. The Blu-Ray did amazing and I couldn’t believe how many people were waiting for that. I think we were actually number 2 in sales for the first couple weeks on Amazon.com. Those two albums go together so well that the discs came out beautifully. Doing those shows was like going back the vinyl era where you dropped the needle and boom the music kicks in. We did each album in its entirety the way it was recorded so fans could have that feeling of knowing what the next song is. They could get wrapped up in the songs. We would then take an intermission and come back and play “Pieces of Eight”. It was just so much fun. When we first did those records and you were trying to get them on the radio you would pack one side with what you thought were going to be the hits. You were trying to foresee the future. When you do a live concert things are exactly the opposite. You generally start with the B cuts then the hits and close out with your encores. It was a bizarre way to do a live show like an album but it seemed to work really well. The Blu-Ray version of the show is definitely the way to see it.

AL: Was it hard going back and playing some of the material that you hadn’t played in awhile?
RP: At first it was a little tough. We worked pretty hard on the material and once we got in to it we knew we weren’t turning back. We did a lot of switching off between vocals parts as there are just so many stacked vocal parts on those albums. We even threw a microphone back to our drummer Todd Sucherman who is a great singer. Getting those extra voices were crucial and probably the biggest challenge. We like challenges like that and we welcomed it. Things turned out really well.

AL: VH1 recently did a re-mastered episode of the “Styx: Behind the Music” episode. What was it like having to delve once again back in to the bands history?
RP: Personally I am not a fan of those kinds of shows. I am a bit of a weirdo. I don’t like people knowing my bands business. I liked the concept of not knowing about a band until you went and saw them live. You might see a picture or two of a band in a magazine or something but that was about it. I loved that mystique. Watching these types of shows is a little difficult. I know fans like them and we are in a different age now. With reality television and things I guess these types of shows fit right in. The episode is pretty well represented I think. They shot some footage of me while I was in England and I was a little afraid to watch the show. After seeing I thought it was good and gladthat it was out there for fans to see how the band came about and how we have evolved.

AL: What other plans are in the works for the band?
RP: The band will continue to tour and live its daily life. As that happens things are always evolving and stuff start to tell their own stories. We have been writing new material and talking about getting it recorded for some time. I have started to hear more and more about it as of late. We may find some time in our schedules to actually do that. For us it’s really about the touring business. After this tour wraps up I think we have about a week off and then we go back out doing “An Evening with Styx”. I kind of know what parts of the country we will be in but I don’t know the exact venues.

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Filed Under: Interviews, Music Interviews Tagged With: bassist, nugent, phillips, reo, ricky, speedwagon, ...

Concert Review “Midwest Rock and Roll Express Tour” Ted Nugent, Reo Speedwagon, Styx

“Midwest Rock and Roll Express Tour”
Ted Nugent, Reo Speedwagon, Styx
Date: Friday, July 6th 2012
Venue: Tag’s Summer Stage, Big Flats, NY

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

The “Midwest Rock and Roll Express Tour” rolled into Tag’s Summer Stage in the Upstate NY town of Big Flats on July 17th and put on a show that was overflowing with classic rock hits. Local musician Brian Hughes kicked off the night performing a brief solo set of acoustic cover tunes. Hughes was able to put an interesting spin on several classic songs to which the crowd responded with heavy applause.

The always loud and outspoken Ted Nugent would follow and though performing hits like “Strangle Hold” and the always popular “Cat Scratch Fever” Nugent did not perform his staple of shooting his guitar with a flaming arrow. That aside the band performed flawlessly and sounded great.

Reo Speedwagon would take the stage next coming right out of the gate with “Don’t Let Him Go” and “Take It on The Run” before settling in to acknowledge the crowd. The band played all of their hits and closed out the night just as the sun was setting with the song “Ridin’ The Storm Out”. Reo played at the top of their game and the sound crew continued to shine with crystal clear sound which only added to the bands always upbeat performance.

Styx would close out the night as the near capacity crowd was on their feet from the opening notes of “Blue Collar Man” to the last notes of “Renegade” closed out the show. Tommy Shaw though appearing to be a bit under the weather still put on stellar performance. The band was full of energy interacting with each other and the crowd. The always animated Lawrence Gowan danced and spun around on his keyboard stand at dizzying speeds all without missing a beat.

The lineup, production and sound are top notch on this tour and if it’s making a stop in your area or nearby I highly recommend checking it out as the show is worth way more than the price of admission.

 

Ted Nugent :

1.) Wango Tango

2.) Just What the Doctor Ordered

3.) Free For All

4.) Stormtroopin’

5.) Wang Dang Sweet Poontang

6.) I Can’t Quite You Babe

7.) Hey Baby

8.) Cat Scratch Fever

9.) Strangle Hold

 

Reo Speedwagon:

1.) Don’t Let Him Go

2.) Take It on The Run

3.) Keep Pushin’

4.) Golden Country

5.) Can’t Fight This Feeling

6.) That Ain’t Love

7.) Like You Do

8.) Time For Me To Fly

9.) Back on the Road Again

10.) Roll With The Changes

11.) Keep on Loving You

12.) Ridin’ The Storm Out

 

Styx:

1.) Blue Color Man

2.) The Grand Illusion

3.) Too Much Time On My Hands

5.) Lorelei

6.) Man in the Wilderness

7.) Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)

8.) Miss America

9.) Come Sail Away

10.) Rockin’ the Paradise

11.) Renegade 

 

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Filed Under: Concert Reviews Tagged With: concert, express, midwest, nugent, reo, review, ...

Laura Wilde talks about music and touring with Ted Nugent

Laura Wilde is an Australian singer/songwriter who is currently out on tour with her band supporting classic rock icon Ted Nugent. Laura just released a new single titled “Sold my Soul” and Media Mikes had the chance to talk with Laura recently about the single and the current tour.

Adam Lawton: What was it that made you want to get in to playing/performing music?
Laura Wilde: I have been obsessed with guitars ever since I was a kid. It was something that was always on my mind. My parents wouldn’t buy one for me so it just started to become a deeper and deeper obsession. Around the time I turned 12 I finally received a guitar for Christmas. I was so happy to have one that I played it all the time. When I was about 16 I decided that I wanted music to be my career. I started recording songs as soon as I finished high school and all while I was attending university. After a year of university I asked my parents if I could try music and see how things go. I have been working at it ever since.

AL: How do you personally describe your sound?
LW: I think it is pretty much just straight up rock and roll. There are screeching guitars, heavy drum beats and some melodic tracks thrown in the mix.

AL: Can you give us some background on your first single “Sold my Soul”?
LW: The song was written and demoed pretty much over night. It was a very fast process and the song sort of wrote it’s self. It’s a celebration song about coming to America and all of the places I want to visit while touring. We had the toe tapping drum beat and then we threw the guitar riffs over the top of that and everything just fell in to place.

AL: What has been the biggest difference for you performing in the States as compared to performing in your home of Australia?
LW: In Australia there wasn’t a real rock scene. There it is more of an indie rock type thing going on. I am more in to the leather and big hair. (Laughs) I decided to come to America after an A&R guy told me that I would be more suited in the States. There are more opportunities here in the States because there is a larger group of people. America is the heart land of rock and roll.

AL: Can you tell us about your current tour supporting Ted Nugent?
LW: It has been such an honor to be invited to tour with Ted. He is a legend and does over 300 shows per year. Ted runs a very tight ship and everything is very professional. It’s been a huge learning experience.

AL: How did you initially become involved with the tour?
LW: My publicist at the time used to be Ted’s publicist as well. She was the one who put it together thinking it would be a good fit. Unfortunately she passed away before she could see everything happen. She has been with us in spirit every step of the way.

AL: What are your plans for the rest of the year?
LW: We are out with Ted until late August. Once we get back home we will be going in to the studio to start on the record. We will definitely be doing a full-length release next and you will probably see some of my older influences shine through. I have about 30 tracks written that we can choose from but I know there will be more stuff being written while we are out on tour. We are looking forward to being busy in the coming months.

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Filed Under: Interviews, Music Interviews Tagged With: laura, music, nugent, talks, ted, touring, ...

Film Review “Ted”

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis and Seth MacFarlane
Directed by: Seth MacFarlane
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 46 mins
Universal

Our Score: 5 out 5 stars

We’ve all had a favorite toy at some time in our lives. For 8 year old John Bennett (Bretton Manley) that toy arrived on Christmas Day. A large stuff teddy bear that he, naturally, named Ted. The two were inseparable. One night John wished that Ted was real so they could be best friends forever. Thanks to a high passing shooting star his wish is granted. Of course a walking and talking teddy bear won’t go unnoticed and for some time John and Ted enjoy a little notoriety. But soon the hubbub dies down and the two remain best buds forever. Or do they?

Outrageously funny from beginning to end, “TED” could only come from the mind of “Family Guy” creator MacFarlane. Now 35, John (Wahlberg) is in a long term relationship with Lori (Kunis), who has learned to accept that Ted will always be part of John’s life. That the life in question is based on early morning pot smoking and continual viewings of “Flash Gordon” does not sit as well with Lori and she continues to drop hints that maybe it’s time for Ted to find a place of his own. But that is easier said than done.

Featuring funny performances and, along with Johnny Depp showing up in “21 Jump Street,” the greatest film cameo of the year, “TED” features some very familiar faces (voices) from the “Family Guy” world, including Patrick Stewart, Patrick Warburton and Alex Borstein. Wahlberg is very funny as man/child John while Kunis is strong in what is basically the “straight” role in the film. MacFarlane voices Ted as a miniature stuffed Eddie Haskell, relying on his infinite charm to stay out of trouble. As a director, MacFarlane shows great promise. There are a few great tracking shots he utilizes that may be easy to achieve in animation but are a pain when working in live action. The visual effect that IS Ted is also well rendered, making at least one person in the audience wish aloud that he could go home with them!

 

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, review, ted
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