Ted: Snuggle bear’s coolest accountant

Before I watched this movie I was on the fence.  There is just something weird about a talking teddy bear that swear, drinks and has sex. Then again, at least it’s an original story. My friends gave it rave reviews, so I went with an open mind, hoping that it would live up to the hype. It did, and here’s why.

Let me premise this by saying that if you are a movie snob and only appreciate academy award winners, this is not for you. But if your open to it, besides delivering laughs, Ted had a romantic comedy-esk plot as well as an overall moral. Go figure. Ya, there are a large number of party scenes where they do crazy things, but what were you expecting? This isn’t the Notebook. Ted may be crude, and at sometimes disgusting (there is a scene where there is a shit on the floor, enough said), but he was a great match for Mark Walhberg’s somewhat innocent and immensely immature character, John. It just made sense that someone so lost would have a talking teddy bear as his best friend. Because, as Mila Kunis character points out, how much can someone grow up if they are still bringing their teddy everywhere? I wonder if the writers meant to give Ted a deeper meaning, or if it just happened, because, surprisingly, this bad-mouthed teddy bear has some wisdom to offer. Ted stops fooling around all the time and gets a job. Mark becomes less selfish, more motivated, and begins building a life for himself and his fiancé. Basically, everyone in the film learns how to grow up, a lesson not easily learned and one that I am currently struggling with.

If you are looking for a great example of a well-written comedic script, this is it. The one-liners were awesome, and some of the jokes so unexpected that it kept me interested when the story dragged a bit in the middle. Though many will argue that the Flash Gordon references were stupid, I think they supplemented the idea of immaturity nicely. Especially since that was one of the most ridiculous shows ever to be created.  Overall, Ted did what it was supposed to. It made me laugh so hard I almost fell out of my seat, and weep for the demise of humanity all at the same time. Sounds like a winner to me.  

Noteworthy: The White Trash name game was hilarious. Apparently Mark Walhberg named off about 50 girls names in 30 seconds just off the the top of his head. Impressive. 

TV Interlude: FRIENDS

Last night, I settled in for the final episode of Friends. I circulate the seasons at night because I am so comfortable with the show, and know it so well that I literally can stay up and watch or fall asleep comfortably to the sound of their voices. Either way, I feel like it is running through my head constantly. But I stay away from two episodes like the plague because they will make me ball like a baby. The first is the break up episode in season 3, “The One with the Morning After,” (yes I know, it’s pathetic that I know the names of the episodes). Anyone who has ever been cheated on knows that it is a feeling that you don’t want to relive, and every time I watch this episode all I can think about is the jerk who broke my heart. It feels just like that too, you are exhausted all the time and that person is forever changed in your mind, tainted somehow.

The other one is “The Last One” because, well, it’s the end of something, and lord knows I don’t deal with endings well. It is perfect in the fact that it is not actually sad at all, the jokes are well times as usual, the plots wrap up the way you want them to. But for some reason every time Rachel shows up and says “I got off the plane” tears stream down my face. It’s the perfect ending to a ten-season story. It is the ending that we dream for, but seldom get. It is bittersweet, wonderfully entertaining television. 

I am a firm believer in the fact that Friends episodes can solve any problem, if you stay away from the above mentioned episodes for the above mentioned reasons. It’s never not amusing to see Monica in a fat suit, or watch Chandler be girly, or see Ross sport the worst fake tan in the history of the world. Flashbacks are always good stories, and some of my favorite episodes are about nothing,  like the one where they are all just trying to get ready to leave (season 3), or the one with Unagi. The genius is that you can walk in on any episode and feel like you understand and are invested. If you are a diehard like me, by the end of the series these characters were so well developed, in depth, and quirky that they really did feel like friends. You knew how neurotic they were and it made them all the more endearing. 

If you’ve never given it a chance, you should. I have hooked so many people on this show I can’t even count.  The writing is quirky and heartwarming, and no matter how many times I watch these episodes I want more. It is the only show that I have ever felt that way about, and it is the only show that I haven’t gotten annoyed with characters or bored with story lines (I’m a tough critic).

Fav description: 6 normal people. No Sex. Bad Jobs. Hit Show. Go Figure. I guess some things are just meant to be. 

Noteworthy: Still making an impact, here is a recent Friends article that I adore:  http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2012/05/friends-oral-history-top-of-the-rock?mbid=social_retweet