“Ted 2”

Comedy: 1 hour, 56 minutes

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane, Amanda Seyfried and Jessica Barth          

Director: Seth MacFarlane

Rated: R (Profanity, sexual content, drug content, violence and thematic elements, including crude humor)

Movie Review: MacFarlane is a modern-day Mel Brooks. He knows how to draft one-liners in his screenplays, even if some of the moments are recycled and reimagined, borrowed material.

While not as intelligently comical as “Ted” (2012, also directed and created by MacFarlane), “Ted 2” is humorous. It is good on one-liners, but it plays like one big sitcom — an extension of FOX’s “Family Guy.”

Newlywed couple Ted (voice of MacFarlane), a teddy bear, and Tami-Lynn (Barth), a human, want to have a baby. Adoption agencies deny the couple’s attempt to adopt because Ted is deemed property and not a person. In addition, Ted and Tami-Lynn’s marriage is invalid via state law. Ted and his best friend, John (Wahlberg), hire Samantha (Seyfried), a novice attorney, working her first case. Her job is to prove Ted is a person.   

This adult comedy produces laughs from its audiences. Sometimes, the laughs are good comedy. Other times, the moments are just sheer stupidity and juvenile. One may laugh, but it is because the moment is just too silly for any other action.

MacFarlane’s comedy is juvenile, yet moments exist that are brilliant notions about pop culture, politics, media, sexuality and race. The problem is MacFarlane recycles the material and makes scenes one-liners that seem more like a standup routine.

The jokes work, individually yet infrequently. The story and the jokes do not always appear to have the same agenda. The comedy appears to make jokes rather than facilitate the story.

Some jokes are recycled to the point they are numbing. Some feel like humor already seen in other comedies. Other moments are just crude.

This is MacFarlane’s style.

It works from his animated sitcoms, “Family Guy” (1999–), “American Dad!” (2005 – 2015) and “The Cleveland Show” (2009 – 2013). His comedy has large amounts of fans. MacFarlane’s juvenile humor appeals to certain demographics.

A movie about a potty-mouthed teddy bear trying to have a child with a human is the plot. It is weird but go with it or not. Maybe, MacFarlane was thinking the baby would have something to cuddle with after birth.

This is the humor of “Ted 2.” Your tolerance for this type of entertainment determines its appeal.

Grade: C+ (A crude but huggable teddy bear.)

 

“Max”

Drama: 1 hour, 50 minutes

Starring: Thomas Haden Church, Josh Wiggins, Luke Kleintank and Mia Xitlali

Director: Boaz Yakin

Rated: PG (Violence, peril, brief language and some thematic elements)

Movie Review: “Max” is a neat tale about a boy and a dog.

It is meant as a tribute to the many military dog handlers and their four-legged companions. While the message is noble, the story often detours with unneeded additives.

After the death of his brother, Kyle Wincott (Robbie Amell), a Marine, Justin finds himself taking care of Kyle’s dog, Max. The animal suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, so he needs healing as much as Justin needs consoling. The two become friends just in time.

Again, “Max” has a driven purpose. It wants to honor some brave military men and women. The notion is good. The story works as a decent movie.

An old-fashioned feel exists when viewing “Max.” It feels like the dog television shows of yesteryear like “Old Yeller” (1957). The story works in this sense.

It is about a hero canine who saves more than just the day. He also restores a young hope. The moments are inspiring.

While paying tribute to military personnel, director-writer Yakin’s screenplay that he co-wrote with Sheldon Lettich involves many other concepts that often make it an action movie more than a drama.

The plot also detours with tangent stories that add little to the main plot. These moments appear ill placed or odd. This is where a straightforward story would suffice, although those multiple deviations keep the movie from becoming emotive. The concept is a negative for characters because they never become convincing for what should be a more emotive screenplay at its beginning.

“Max” is decent entertainment and creates an adventure for family-oriented audiences of appropriate ages. It is a message movie. Its goal is to promote a story with meaning.

However, it does this while sacrificing characterizations and having a less than par ending.

Grade: C+ (Good on honorable message, the story components need aid.)

Adann-Kennn Alexxandar lives in Valdosta.