Seth MacFarlane has had a penchant for brassy musical numbers since Family Guy's early days (just listen to the show's theme song for a refresher), so it's no surprise that his film Ted -- which tells the story of a man and the outspoken teddy bear he's had since boyhood -- mixes traditional-sounding music with shoot-from-the-hip humor. Like
MacFarlane's TV programs,
Ted boasts a snazzy theme song in "Everyone Needs a Best Friend."
Walter Murphy, who also composed the theme songs for Family Guy, American Dad, and The Cleveland Show, delivers a score that's equal parts swinging big band, '80s sitcom, and action movie music on tracks such as "The Power of Wishes," "John & Lori at Work," and "The Car Chase/Fenway Pursuit."
Ted also features a few well-chosen pop songs, including
Queen's over the top "Flash's Theme,"
Hootie & the Blowfish's "Only Wanna Be with You," and
Norah Jones' "Come Away with Me." Witty and distinctively
MacFarlane, the soundtrack shows he can translate his musical ideas, as well as his comedy, to the big screen. ~ Heather Phares