Black Sheep does TV: FAMILY GUY Volume 10

Due to some logistical reasoning that must have something to do with the show's cancelation and subsequent triumphant return to television in 2003, FAMILY GUY does not release complete seasons on DVD. Instead, their compilations are categorized in volumes and they consist of chunks of sequential episodes that may end up stretching over a couple of seasons. Their latest release, FAMILY GUY VOLUME 10, consists of 14 episodes, which make up the remaining episodes from the show's ninth season, except for their third and final STAR WARS send-up, entitled "It's a Trap!" You may have to buy that one separately but you will certainly have plenty to enjoy if you just start with this collection, which contains some of the finest FAMILY GUY episodes I've ever seen.

Even FAMILY GUY creator, Seth MacFarlane (who gave us TED this past summer and was just announced as the next Oscars host), admits that the show is losing steam in its later years. I would tend to agree with him but even though the show may not be as uproarious as it once was, it can still knock them out of the park from time to time. Who can forget the first time Peter Griffin, everyone's second favourite working schlepp (Sorry, Peter; Homer will always come first), tried Red Bull for the first time? Not only is the spoof of Madonna's "Ray of Light" video that follows his first sips endlessly hilarious, but before the episode, entitled "New Kidney in Town", is done, the show will go to an emotional place that is not only unexpected but highly palpable. The potential loss of a cartoon character should not feel that real. And only FAMILY GUY could get away with the audacity it requires to suggest Stewie Griffin is actually responsible for the creation of the universe, in the brilliant episode, "The Big Bang Theory". In yet another time travel episode, Stewie and Brian find themselves outside the space time continuum and only an explosion will get them back to the world they just left. It is such a smart concept that it should remind MacFarlane that his baby ain't dead yet.

At this point, I don't expect too many FAMILY GUY converts to appear out of nowhere. You either get the humour or you don't. (My mother does not get it.) And while their DVD releases may not be selling the staggering amounts they once did (Volume 1 & 2, sold together, remain the second biggest TV season on DVD in history), fans will continue to complete their collections until there is no more family fun to be had. Years from now, when they inevitably go off the air again, you will not regret adding FAMILY GUY VOLUME 10 to said collection.

Review copy provided by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Review: Ted (2012)

John (Wahlberg) and Ted (voiced by MacFarlane)

Directed by Seth MacFarlane
Produced by Jason Clark, John Jacobs, Seth MacFarlane, Scott Stuber, and Wellesley Wild
Written by Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin, and Wellesley Wild
Starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, and Seth MacFarlane

*1/2

Seth MacFarlane's directorial debut is akin to his hit animated television series Family Guy. In other words, it is hit and miss. After wishing his teddy bear would come to life, John Bennett (Wahlberg) grows up with a talking bear called Ted (voiced by MacFarlane). The main problem with living with a bear at 35 is that John also has a long-term girlfriend Lori Collins (Kunis). She wants him to become a responsible, mature companion, but Ted wants him to continue living their party lifestyle. This conflict forces them to split up. However, through several (mostly uninteresting) twists, the couple are reunited when they must save Ted from a lunatic childhood fan. In the end, the rift is mended, and the threesome are left to live happily ever after.

This film was just not for me. Sure, it is funny in parts. There are no shortage of jokes. The problem is that a lot of them are not very funny. Of course, the film also feels like it was put on autopilot, yet it feels overlong as well. I just was not interested in what was happening. It doesn't seem like there was enough here for a feature film. The gimmicky bear grows tiresome after the first thirty minutes, which left me grasping for something to enjoy. Wahlberg, Kunis, and even MacFarlane do perform admirably, even if Wahlberg is miscast, but it was not meant to be. Many people like this movie; I just didn't. See it for a laugh or two. Perhaps you'll find it funnier than I did.

Oscar Potential: None

TED

TED

Written by Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild

Directed by Seth MacFarlane

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis and Seth MacFarlane

Ted: (Dressed in a suit) I look stupid.

John: No, you don’t. You look dapper.

Ted: John, I look like something you give to your kid when you tell ‘em Grandma died.

The opening sequence to TED, Seth MacFarlane’s (FAMILY GUY) first live-action feature film, tells you everything you need to know about whether you’re going to enjoy yourself or not. In it, a narrator (voiced by AMERICAN DAD regular, Patrick Stewart) tells us the story of how, one Christmas, a little boy’s wish brought a stuffed bear to life. The twosome will go on to become the bestest of friends until inevitably one day when a woman will come between them and threaten their very special relationship. It isn’t long before jokes are made about Jewish people and obscure pop culture references or even before the narrator himself takes a decidedly dirty direction with his tone. This is the story of a boy who doesn’t want to grow up, as told by a man who has made a fortune playing directly to boys who don’t want to grow up, the world over. Sometimes, I question whether MacFarlane has ever fully grown up himself. The question he poses to us is whether that’s actually a bad thing or not.

I think it would be fair to say that if you enjoy MacFarlane’s humour on his animated Fox shows (including THE CLEVELAND SHOW, in addition to the previously mentioned examples), then you will most likely laugh it up throughout TED. I actually do like MacFarlane’s humour quite a bit and I did a fair amount of hearty chuckling throughout his film debut, but not enough to see through all of his laziness. As much as I enjoy FAMILY GUY (and I do often enjoy it over and over again), I have found that he has learned to coast a bit on what he knows works well already. In TED, MacFarlane plays it safe, bringing on a number of people he’s already familiar with, from co-star, Mila Kunis, to composer, Walter Murphy. Heck, there’s even one foreigner character who knows the English language well enough to get by but misses all the nuances. (If you watch FAMILY GUY, you’ll know what that refers to). It almost felt to me at times that not only was MacFarlane playing it safe but rather surrounding himself with the familiar so he too would feel safe in this unchartered territory.

I would be remiss not to mention as well how similar Ted the bear sounds like  MacFarlane’s quintessential character, Peter Griffin. They are so similar at times that MacFarlane even calls himself out on it in one scene when Ted quips about how he does not sound exactly like Peter Griffin. Just because MacFarlane is in on the joke though does not make us forget that TED is, on many levels, just FAMILY GUY crammed into a cuddly bear. And while this does entertain on many levels, it only does so to a point. What it does past that is expose without question MacFarlane’s limitations as a writer and director.

PS. I really do like you, Mr. MacFarlane. I guess, I just want to see what else you can do, where else you can go.

The Black Sheep Summer Movie Previews

With THE AVENGERS now officially smashing records in theatres around the world, there is no denying that the summer movie season is officially upon us. As a film critic, the summer is always an iffy time for me. I am all for big budget blockbusters; I like to shut my mind off and chill out just like the rest of you. Unfortunately, turning off these days is often not good enough for Hollywood. It seems to enjoy some of today's summer movies, one has to actually lower their intelligence to get on board. That's where I usually draw the line, y'know, while I still know how to do so. And so I scoured this summer's calendar and the following is a list of 10 titles I am betting will prove that a great summer movie doesn't have to be dumb to be enjoyed. In order of expected release ...

MOONRISE KINGDOM
Directed by Wes Anderson
May 25




I'm a big Wes Anderson fan so anytime he comes out with a new film, I'm going to be excited for it. With a cast like this, how can I not be?

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN
Directed by Rupert Sanders
June 1




After that last Snow White movie, I'm ready to see the story be given a real chance to be re-imagined.

PROMETHEUS
Directed by Ridley Scott
June 8




I'll see anything with Michael Fassbender in it these days. And I love this viral video!

BRAVE
Directed by Mark Andrews
June 22




After Pixar's last offering (CARS 2), it will be refreshing to see them get back to their original roots again. Well, I hope it will be anyway.

TO ROME WITH LOVE

Directed by Woody Allen
June 22




Woody continues to travel the world and I am ready to follow him anywhere. Side note: I'm so happy to see the words, "Written & Directed by Woody Allen" to finally be proudly displayed in a trailer again.

MAGIC MIKE
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
June 29




A Channing Tatum stripper movie directed by Steven Soderbergh. Need I say more?

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
Directed by Marc Webb
July 3




Amazing, indeed. Too soon for a reboot? Who cares?! It's Spider-Man! I love the cast and I'm very curious to see how the (500) DAYS OF SUMMER director holds up in the big leagues.

TED
Directed by Seth MacFarlane
July 13




MacFarlane brings his FAMILY GUY humour to the big screen for the first time and I'm skeptical but intrigued.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
Directed by Christopher Nolan
July 20




This is the big one! It might be the only movie that really matters this summer. Will it match the grosses of THE DARK KNIGHT? I doubt it. Will it be even better? I'm seriously hoping!

PARANORMAN
Directed by Sam Fell
August 17




I still haven't seen an animated film this year that I liked. My money is riding on this one.

And that's it! 10 whole movies I actually want to see all summer. I'm sure there will be more that pop up along the way but that's it for now. Geez. I might actually have to spend some time, gulp, outside! Getting fresh air! And playing sports! Or I can just see THE DARK KNIGHT RISES over and over again.

Bon cinema!