NEW YORK (CNS) -- "Ted 2" (Universal) is another wallow in sexist, racist, stoner vulgarity by Seth MacFarlane.

MacFarlane, who directed, co-wrote the screenplay with Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild and voices the potty-mouthed teddy bear as a fuzzy, bawdier version of Peter Griffin from "Family Guy," ventures into crude sexual gags and casually expressed racism along with his trademark pop-culture riffs.

This comes off not so much as gleefully exploding taboos, but rather as MacFarlane's eagerness to cash in by reinforcing old stereotypes. He's made a film for bigots to clasp to their shriveled hearts.

The core story to this sequel to the 2013 film is solid enough, dealing with Ted's quest for legal personhood. At the end of the first film, Ted was best man at the wedding of his childhood owner, Boston native John (Mark Walhlberg). This installment begins with John sadly divorced for six months while Ted is getting married to grocery cashier Tami-Lynn (Jessica Barth). It's a rocky coupling, which they decide to "save" by having a child.

After some lewd adventures attempting to find a sperm donor and learning that Tami-Lynn is infertile, they pursue adoption. The unexpected consequence: The state of Massachusetts decides that the 2-foot-tall Ted is "property," not a person, and as a result, his marriage is annulled and he loses his grocery store job. This sets John and Ted on a quest for courtroom justice.

Is Ted capable of love? Is he aware of his own consciousness? Does he have empathy? Has he a soul? Well, obviously, but the first trial with his pot-smoking rookie lawyer Sam (Amanda Seyfried) ends in failure.

While this is going on, Ted's stalker, Donny (Giovanni Ribisi), now working as a janitor at Hasbro, concocts another plot to kidnap the bear and cut him open, so the toy giant, after seeing whether Ted is merely stuffed with fluff or has some magical inside construction, can manufacture many more.

Before the courtroom finale -- in which lawyer Patrick (Morgan Freeman) makes their eloquent argument by invoking Dred Scott -- John, Sam and Ted go on a raucous road trip to New York City to recruit the barrister. This creates the film's crudest sexual reference involving a bong.

The film contains casual racist remarks including the N-word, references to aberrant sexual behavior, fleeting female nudity, pervasive drug use, pervasive crude, crass and profane language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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Jensen is a guest reviewer for Catholic News Service.

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CAPSULE REVIEW

"Ted 2" (Universal)

Sequel to the 2013 film is another wallow in sexist, racist, stoner vulgarity. Seth MacFarlane, who directed, co-wrote the screenplay with Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild and voices the potty-mouthed teddy bear as a fuzzy, bawdier version of Peter Griffin from "Family Guy," ventures into crude sexual gags and casually expressed racism along with his trademark pop-culture riffs. Casual racist remarks including the N-word, references to aberrant sexual behavior, fleeting female nudity, pervasive drug use, pervasive crude, crass and profane language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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CLASSIFICATION

"Ted 2" (Universal) -- Catholic News Service classification, O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating, R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.