Universal Pictures
106 min., dir. by Seth MacFarlane, with Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, and Giovanni Ribisi

Embracing a style that throws everything on the table with little method behind it, Ted follows the same formula that fans of “Family Guy” are used to. I found that there are laughs to be had from the myriad of dated pop culture references that fly over the heads of MacFarlane’s target audience; mostly, however, I have disdain for the lack of true cleverness in every single minute of Ted.

As a young boy, John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) had a difficult time making friends. One Christmas night, John makes a wish that the teddy bear he received as a gift that day would come to life to be his friend. By God, the wish comes true. The existence of the living stuffed animal was not kept secret, and the Ted (voiced by writer/director Seth MacFarlane) becomes a star. Eventually, though, people stop caring as John and Ted grow older. Now an adult and in the fourth year of a serious relationship, John comes face-to-face with the reality that Ted may have to stop playing such a large role in his life. It’s time for John to grow up, and Ted just stunts that growth.

Relying on a simple premise, Ted rolls out a litany of fart and drug jokes. I have nothing against any of that, and some of it works fine here — but even films like the American Pie series divvy up a range of bodily functions to use as punchlines. Ted, however, literally has the word “fart” or the action of farting weighing in every five minutes. When fart jokes don’t fit, we’re treated to humor based on the stuffed bear cursing or taking drugs. Finally, when those options aren’t available, MacFarlane trots out references that are lost on anyone under the age of 30. I’d never imply that Tom Skerritt is not an important actor in film history, but mentioning his name and showing his picture six times as a punchline in your movie? C’mon, man.

Sometimes it’s hard not to laugh at a cuddly little bear saying nasty things and acting on devilish impulses, but MacFarlane’s attempts (or lack thereof) to build something fresh fails. Early in the film, he literally recreates an entire scene from Airplane!; a carbon copy with the exception of one joke. The audience around me broke out in laughter as if they had never seen it before. Once I realized that this is because the young people watching truly hadn’t seen Airplane!, my heart sunk. I’m sure people will argue that “it was a loving homage to something Seth loved.” Even so, this is not how you do an homage.

Seth MacFarlane has turned the entertainment world into his personal playroom. The only guests allowed are people he liked as a child, and good for him for making his dreams come true. “Family Guy” and “American Dad” fanatics undoubtedly will see the funniest movie of the year in Ted. For everyone else, it will just be some chuckles hidden in a mass of randomness that misses the mark.