'Ted' 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review - Seth MacFarlane Crafts A Crude Tale Of Childhood Magic

Geek Vibes Nation

03-07-2025

Family Guy and The Orville creator Seth MacFarlane delivers his signature boundary-pushing humor in the outrageous comedy blockbuster, Ted. John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) is a grown man whose cherished teddy bear came to life as the result of a childhood wish … and hasn't left his side since. Can John's relationship with his longtime girlfriend Lori (Mila Kunis) move forward with his plush and profane pal in the picture?
For thoughts on Ted, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:
Video Quality
Ted has been provided a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray in 2160p/Dolby Vision courtesy of Shout! Studios sourced from a Digital Intermediate that incrementally improves upon the accompanying Blu-Ray derived from the same source. The film was first released on Blu-ray a dozen years ago in 2012 through Universal following its theatrical release. When compared to the new included Blu-Ray, the difference is not going to knock you sideways, but the fresh 4K master allows the material to be the best version of itself on a proper 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc. This 4K UHD presentation provides an uptick in clarity throughout the feature. The modern production design is fully on display alongside the locales. Textures are more refined in some of the clothing along with elements of the background. Any previous instances of compression artifacts and banding present on the Blu-Ray are never in play with this 4K UHD disc.
As is typical with the format, the implementation of Dolby Vision allows the picture to achieve the greatest degree of nuance possible. The color grading has a slightly yellow push to it that we are not in love with, but there is a similar push on the original Universal Blu-Ray, so we have to assume this is inherent to the source. Many hues beam off the screen such as certain automobile colors and outfits. The contrast is in good shape with firm black levels that appear deep with great detail. Any nighttime scenes are more vivid and finely delineated in this format. The highlights are firm and balanced with no instances of blooming that we noticed. The Blu-Ray serves the film admirably, but if you want the film to look its best, the 4K UHD release cannot be topped.
Audio Quality
This 4K UHD Blu-Ray release delivers a favorable DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 lossless track that effortlessly brings this story to life. Dialogue flows clearly in the center channel without getting overwhelmed by the music or any sound effects. The activity in the low end is not a powerhouse due to the scope of the narrative, but it knows when to dig deep. The track stirs all of the channels with sound effects and ambient noise in all environments that feel fully three-dimensional. The score and soundtrack establish a playful atmosphere from the onset with sturdy fidelity. Bustling sequences have a dynamic sound design that packs a punch. This disc seems every bit as precise as anything when it comes to nuance and clarity. Shout! Studios has offered a wonderful audio experience for this film. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
Audio Commentary:
Director/Co-Writer Seth MacFarlane, Actor Mark Wahlberg, and Co-Writer Alec Sulkin provide a lively archival commentary track in which they discuss the production of the film, the location shooting, the work of the performers, the special effects work, and more.
Nothing Is As Powerful As A Young Man's Wish: Creating Ted – Interview with Co-Writers Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild:
A new nearly 19-minute interview piece with the writers in which they discuss developing the idea from Seth MacFarlane, the themes of the film, the casting process, being authentic to Boston, and more.
Thunder Buddies For Life: Producing Ted – Interview With Producer Jason Clark:
A new nearly 15-minute interview with the producer in which he discusses working with Seth MacFarlane, the decision to use CGI, clearing various legal issues, scoring with a live orchestra, and more.
The Making of Ted:
A 25-minute archival featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the creation of the film.
Deleted Scenes:
A 15-minute selection of unused footage is provided here.
Alternate Takes:
A nearly 11-minute collection of footage that includes numerous alternate line reads that didn't make the final cut.
Gag Reel:
A nearly seven-minute collection of flubbed lines, malfunctioning props, laughing fits, and more.
Teddy Bear Scuffle:
A nearly six-minute look into the brawl in the hotel room.
Donny & Robert:
A nearly six-minute piece on the creepy villains of the film.
Celebrity Scene Stealers:
An eight-minute featurette on the many celebrity cameos in the film.
Sleazy Boss:
A five-minute exploration of the character played by Joel McHale.
OMG! It's Sam Jones:
A four-minute spotlight on the epic cameo in the film.
Ted's Girl:
A three-minute video on the romantic interest from the grocery store.
Best Of Buds:
A three-minute excavation of the special place of weed in the film.
Beantown Bearings:
A six-minute featurette that takes a look at the importance of Boston to the story.
Final Thoughts
Ted finds Seth MacFarlane bringing his comedic sensibility to the big screen, and the results lend a bit of credence to the idea that some boundaries are good for the creative spirit. His work on network television has often shocked audiences, but it is also quite clever in how it chooses to do so in order to adhere to standards and practices. This feature leans into every crass idea with gusto, and even with less than 15 years since its creation, there is quite a bit that has aged poorly in terms of punching down with comedy. There are numerous funny moments that still make this worth a watch, but it is not quite the comedic knockout it once was. Shout! Studios has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a favorable A/V presentation along with some valuable special features.
Ted is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Shout! Studios has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.