Ted (film)
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Ted is a fantasy comedy film from 2012, co-produced and directed by Seth MacFarlane, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild, based on a story by MacFarlane. As the inaugural film in the Ted franchise, it features Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis in leading roles, with Joel McHale and Giovanni Ribisi appearing in supporting roles, while MacFarlane lends his voice and performs motion capture for the titular character. The narrative follows John Bennett, a native of Boston, whose childhood desire brings his teddy bear companion, Ted Wiggins, to life. However, as adults, the bond between Ted and John starts to disrupt John's romantic relationship with his girlfriend, Lori Collins.
MacFarlane's debut as a feature-length director, the film was produced by Media Rights Capital and distributed by Universal Pictures. It premiered in U.S. theaters on June 29, 2012, and achieved significant commercial success, earning $549.4 million against a production budget of $50–65 million. Ted emerged as the highest-grossing comedy film of the year and received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The film garnered generally favorable reviews and effectively initiated a franchise, leading to a sequel in 2015 and a prequel television series set to debut in 2024.
Plot
In 1985, 8-year-old John Bennett is a friendless only child living in Norwood, Massachusetts. On Christmas Day, he wishes for his new gift, a jumbo teddy bear named Ted Wiggins, to come to life and become his friend. The wish coincides with a shooting star and comes true; word spreads, and Ted briefly becomes a celebrity.
Cast
- Mark Wahlberg as John Bennett, Ted Wiggins's best friend who, as a child, wished he would come to life. An immature but mild-mannered slacker who loves to smoke pot with his best friend.
- Colton Shires as teenage John Bennett
- Bretton Manley as young John Bennett
- Seth MacFarlane as Ted Wiggins (voice and motion capture), John's teddy bear and best friend. John wished him to life when he was a kid, and the two have remained friends ever since. Ted grows up to be a crude, foul-mouthed, alcoholic teddy bear, but he is also a lovable cheeky-chappy and is highly protective of John, MacFarlane replaces Zac Efron in this film.
- Zane Cowans as young Ted
- Tara Strong (uncredited) as Ted's "I Love You" function
- Mila Kunis as Lori Collins
- Joel McHale as Rex
- Giovanni Ribisi as Donny, Ted's biggest fan and stalker
- Aedin Mincks as Robert, Donny's brutish son
- Patrick Warburton as Guy, John's co-worker
- Laura Vandervoort as Tanya, John's co-worker
- Matt Walsh as Thomas Murphy, John's boss
- Jessica Barth as Tami-Lynn McCaffert
- Bill Smitrovich as Frank Stevens
- Alex Borstein as Helen Bennett,
- Ralph Garman as Steve Bennett
- Jessica Stroup as Tracy, Lori's co-worker
- Sam J. Jones as himself
- Ryan Reynolds (uncredited) as Jared
- Norah Jones as herself
- Tom Skerritt as himself
- Mike Henry as a Southern newscaster
- Robert Wu as Quan Ming / Ming the Merciless
- Ted Danson (uncredited) as himself
- Patrick Stewart as the Narrator
- Shawn Thornton as the enraged audience member
Trailer