{"id":2271,"date":"2012-08-04T11:36:58","date_gmt":"2012-08-04T11:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=2271"},"modified":"2012-08-04T11:36:58","modified_gmt":"2012-08-04T11:36:58","slug":"ted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/comedy\/ted\/","title":{"rendered":"Ted ****"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Those not a fan of Family Guy<\/em> and Seth MacFarlane\u2019s made-to-shock humour will find Ted<\/em><\/a> a live-action\/part-animated version of much the same crudity and unedited commentary from the writer-director-star. However, those who can happily tune into MacFarlane\u2019s mockery of entrenched stereotypes will find a lot of idiotic bromance fun to Ted<\/em> \u2013 plus the introduction of another unforgettable character that just says it how it is in a world so tied up in political correctness red tape it hurts.<\/p>\n

Lonely kid John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) once wished for a companion then he got a teddy bear for Christmas. As luck would have it, wishing at the right time on a shooting star made his wish come true overnight. Now a grown man John must deal with his boozing, smoking, womanising best friend Ted the bear (voiced by MacFarlane). The trouble is John\u2019s sweetheart Lori (Mila Kunis) has had enough of their bromance and wants John to chose: her or the bear?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a simple fact something so cute and cuddly looking that could be so foul-mouthed and full of faux pas is naturally funny: This is the seal of appeal of Ted the bear \u2013\u00a0like when a small, cute child says a naughty word picked up from its elders. Ted is rather like a combination of Family Guy<\/em>\u2019s male characters rolled into one, but that\u2019s as far as that analogy goes. The central theme to this film is the mundane life of two dope-smoking, beer-swilling wash-ups putting what they see as the \u2018wrongs\u2019 of the world and injustices of having to grow up to right \u2013\u00a0just substitute one human waster for a beastial one\u00ad.<\/p>\n

Where Ted<\/em> may disappoint MacFarlane fans is some of the jokes are not as clever or politically topical as in Family Guy<\/em>: This time MacFarlane has gone for frat boy, smutty, banal stuff on the one hand, or \u2018Bill and Ted\u2019 dopey remarks on the other. Plus some of the \u2018gags\u2019 \u2013 like Ted\u2019s visiting whore leaving a personal present in the living room \u2013 just make you pull a face if nothing else. There is also a rather weird and distracting subplot of a Ted-obsessed, white trash fanatic called Donny (Giovanni Ribisi) and his son that only seems to be there to re-emphasise John and Ted\u2019s lifelong bond and highlight some 80s pop culture, even though underused Ribisi is suitably creepy once more. Indeed, the height of bromance would not be complete without the token idol appearance that defines the relationship: Flash Gordon \u2013 aka Sam J. Jones himself \u2013 being as like-minded as our anti-heroes while proving he\u2019s worthy of their worship.<\/p>\n

However, although a hand-full of the jokes are not up to par at times, Ted<\/em> is still damn entertaining with some hilarious observational humour and throwaway lines interwoven among the \u2018offensive\u2019 stereotyping. It\u2019s these that making John and Ted\u2019s bromance so \u2018real\u2019 and ultimately endearing to watch, as they face the ups and downs of adult life that\u2019s determined to throw spanners in the works of their relationship, resulting in the critical finale. Wahlberg also does your average \u2018loser\u2019 so effortlessly well, by playing it with a big generous heart that nicely compliments Kunis\u2019s prissy, responsible Lori in the story as the \u2018voice of reason\u2019.<\/p>\n

Much like Family Guy<\/em> and Marmite, you\u2019ll either love Ted<\/em> or hate it \u2013\u00a0it certainly won\u2019t convert the anti-MacFarlane brigade. This critic saw it minus the help of a few \u2018Brewskies\u2019 and would have straight-talking Ted over for a sofa slouch any night of the week to chew over life\u2019s ironic imperfections \u2013\u00a0something MacFarlane merely flags and relays in in-your-face humour.<\/p>\n

4\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

By @FilmGazer<\/p>\n

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