Ted

It's always extremely refreshing when a movie knows exactly what it is. The marketing doesn't lie, the star is on the same page as the director and generally speaking, the film ticks over, regardless of genre. Ted is a crude, foulmouthed comedy from the creator of a crude, foulmouthed series, that stars Mark Wahlberg and a teddy bear. It also happens to be frequently hilarious, and at times borderline sweet. This is currently doing Hangover-style business at the North American box-office and it's very easy to see why.

Wahlberg is directionless but well-meaning 35-year-old John, who made a wish when he was a child that his teddy bear, Ted, would come alive and be his best pal forever. Lo and behold his wish comes true, and a few decades later both are still firm pals. Somewhere in there, John meets the gorgeous Lori (Kunis), and she moves in with him and Ted. Constantly pushing him to grow up, it soon becomes apparent that John will have trouble taking life seriously unless Ted moves out (the final straw comes when a hooker takes a crap on their apartment floor.) Will their friendship last? Will Lori get pissed off and leave John for her sleazy boss (a very funny McHale)?

Naturally, it's important that you know what kind of film to expect when sitting down to view Ted. Fans of Family Guy and American Dad certainly won't be disappointed, as it pushes the same irreverent humour as both of those popular animated serials - albeit on a larger, more expletive ridden scale. Seth McFarlane has never directed a movie before and his story and character credentials are hardly stellar, given the interchangeable plot of his shows. But if he knows how to do one thing, it's 'funny'. Family Guy in particular feels like it was written by comedians, and he carries that sensibility over to his first feature film. Ted is a very simple movie with the plot almost an afterthought - but you get the impression that McFarlane realises this.

Audiences have flocked to see this comedy on the promise of a cursing, womanizing, pot-smoking bear, and it delivers in spades. Ted is a fantastic character, superbly embodied by the dulcet tones of its director. He's a battering-ram of zingers who renders the plot pretty much inconsequential, while Wahlberg provides the perfect foil to him. The Boston native has pushed the intense action roles over the past few years, but somewhat surprisingly has found his true home in comedy. He balances John's utter density with just enough charm for you to get why Lori would go out with him, while Ted is actually given a (somewhat) believable backstory.

A consistently funny, sometimes sweet and pretty much always offensive comedy and a cracking feature debut from McFarlane. 'F**k you thunder', indeed.

Comments

• DomS

  Looking forward to this one, look brilliant :-)

  Posted 08:57 | Wed 23rd May 2012

• Zoffy

  Could I get Ted for my Wingman?

  Posted 10:58 | Sat 23rd Jun 2012

• Abbie Phelan

  when is this coming out?

  Posted 23:20 | Thu 28th Jun 2012

• ShankillDublin

  I think this preview could do with some more detail. :-) I don't think the 13,000 viewers will have had a happy experience. How about some pictures of dancing girls or celebrities looking stupid?

  Posted 17:28 | Fri 29th Jun 2012

• Rob Tellone

  Movie Rocks! Going back to see it on IMAX

  Posted 21:02 | Fri 29th Jun 2012

• Verlin Whipple

  Loved the movie....Couldn't stop laughing will have to see it again...felt like the 70 all over again...

  Posted 04:50 | Sat 30th Jun 2012

• Teresa De Leon

  It's horrible. If you want your kids to do drugs, have sex with their stuffies and talk profanity take them to see this movie. Cocaine, marijuana, prostitution, violence, masterbation, all the things you want your kids to do, take them. It's an insult to our intelligence. Don't support this movie, ever.

  Posted 07:29 | Sat 30th Jun 2012

• Ben Mennen

  naww I raise my kids properly so they know that eveything they see on tv they shouldnt imitate and that its just meant to be a comedy. Plus what parent would take there kids to see ANY "R" rated movie?? Looking forward to seeing it with my 18 + counterparts, heard nothing but great things.

  Posted 17:09 | Sat 30th Jun 2012

• Kyle Stone

  Going to see this movie today

  Posted 20:02 | Sat 30th Jun 2012

• Deanna Scala

  Seth McFarlene is a one note writer. Let's see, he has a talking dog in Family Guy and a talking alien in American Dad. The movie was basically a lousy two-hour Family Guy. Ted even has the same voice as Peter Griffin. The jokes were meant for a target audience of about 33-40 (i.e. Flash Gordon, Joan Crawford, Cheers, etc).

  Posted 15:39 | Sun 1st Jul 2012

• David Parham

  Thought this would be a "definitely only a movie for guys, replete with pretty much only rank, guy humor"; well, the writers thought of quite a range of good strings to tug, including the heart strings. "Ted" has a potty mouth, but otherwise has a high enough IQ to prove a good conversationalist, and enough life wisdom to give him redeeming qualities. If you're not offended by some saucy language and sexual references, lighten up and enjoy this edgy but romantic comedy.

  Posted 01:08 | Mon 2nd Jul 2012

• Latrese Sowells

  Please tell me you were smarter than to think that this was a movie to take your kids to right I would assume it is rated R for a reason Smh And then you want to give it a bad rating Lol

  Posted 02:51 | Wed 4th Jul 2012

• ChuckH1962

  Seriously....you took your kids to see an R rated movie and you were shocked that there was content not appropriate for children? The movie is hilarious.....go and see it.

  Posted 16:20 | Fri 6th Jul 2012

• ChuckH1962

  Seriously....you took your kids to see an R rated movie and you were shocked that there was content not appropriate for children? The movie is hilarious.....go and see it.

  Posted 16:20 | Fri 6th Jul 2012

• legallisa

  You dont take children to see this movie...its for adults....go with adults and have a great time...enjoy it...looks very funny...i know damn right well my kids arent going to see it...i would be a bad mommy if i did that...dumb ass!

  Posted 19:53 | Fri 6th Jul 2012

• Ian

  It's enjoyable but it could have been so much more. It would have been better if Ted was the main star and Wahlberg the co-star but as it is you'll still get a laugh out of it.

  Posted 12:42 | Thu 19th Jul 2012

• janaxgara

  Hated this film. Was like one big long episode of Family guy. The humour was really immature and disgusting. The only people that laughed in the theater when i saw this was 14 yr old boys. Don't go to this movie, waste of money and time.

  Posted 05:00 | Tue 31st Jul 2012

• FilmBuff76

  I think Ted is the funniest film I've seen since The Hangover. I totally got it, perhaps because I have a few things in common with Mark Wahlberg's character e.g. an 80s kid who grew up with the Flash Gordon film. I loved the Sam J. Jones cameo. Death to Ming!

  Posted 21:03 | Tue 31st Jul 2012

• wes

  are you for real teresa?! it's not a kids movie! lighten up, not everything has to play up to your intelligence, or lack thereof in your case if you brought children to see this. cannot wait to see it!!

  Posted 23:44 | Tue 31st Jul 2012

• TheAwkwardDancer

  Going to see this today, can't wait.

  Posted 15:17 | Wed 1st Aug 2012

• Tyler Durden

  Superb debut from Seth (talented b**tard). Laugh-out-loud funny. And it's not just one-liners from Ted, there is a semblence of a plot. (Thought the Airplane! reference was hilarious).

  Posted 12:37 | Thu 2nd Aug 2012

• CherrySueDointhedo

  I'm not sure how you got your kids in to see this since it's a 16s film?! Did the trailer not give you any kind of hint? I brought mine but he's 16 and laughed till he almost choked. It is very, very like Family Guy but how would you be surprised at that either?! It's Seth McFarlane FFS. Ted is outrageous, irreverant and laugh out loud, in spite of yourself, hilarious. If you're not easily offended OR a child, I'd highly recommend it.

  Posted 14:20 | Thu 2nd Aug 2012

• Bertaut

  You took your kids to see this?? Parent of the year award coming your way!

  Posted 00:21 | Fri 3rd Aug 2012

• damienmcd

  I wasn't impressed at all. It's nothing new really and I had expected a lot more from Seth McFarlane. I thought it was just a rip-off of the Wilfred TV Show with a CGI teddy instead of a human in a bear suit.

  Posted 11:04 | Fri 3rd Aug 2012

• coolsteve69

  Not impressed. It tries but its not Family guy or American dad. Its just not good. The humour has been done and watching a CGI teddy trying to be Peter but in real life (if that makes sense) didnt work. Wahlberg has good performance though!!

  Posted 13:04 | Fri 3rd Aug 2012

• Rachel

  This is out and out hilarious. Its excatly what you think its going to be. Crude, low brow and damn right fun.

  Posted 15:04 | Fri 3rd Aug 2012

• johnheerey

  Saw it last night - was really looking forward to it. Overall it's not bad, but it's not laugh-a-minute either. I'd probably have enjoyed it more watching at home with a couple of beers, so I wouldn't race to see it in a cinema. As is often the case, a lot of the funnier clips were in the trailer - but I suppose that inevitable. I'd give it about 7/10 - definitely not bad, but didn't quite live up to the hype.

  Posted 16:11 | Fri 3rd Aug 2012

• Sara

  really enjoyed this movie ted rocks i want one!! smoking pot was so funny it was just so cool really good movie go see if you haven't will brighten up your day!!

  Posted 23:14 | Thu 9th Aug 2012

• shelley

  I Seen This Movie It Is Hilarious:)

  Posted 13:38 | Fri 17th Aug 2012

• Rémi Thomas

  really really good

  Posted 12:39 | Tue 21st Aug 2012

• Stephen

  average at best.....jokes will appeal to the masses but really basic and not smart at all

  Posted 20:18 | Wed 22nd Aug 2012

• Samson26

  Not as good as expected but I did enjoy it mainly for the randomness of the whole thing!

  Posted 16:50 | Sat 25th Aug 2012

• cc50

  Am I the only one who didn't find this film funny? it was ok in some parts but I didn't spen the entire film laughing. twice I really laughed. I loved the line near the end "back off Susan Boyle" that made the whole film for me and the very last screen shot of Taylor Lautner, otherwise if i hadn't gone I would have missed nothing...........

  Posted 13:28 | Mon 27th Aug 2012

• cc50

  Am I the only one who didn't find this film funny? it was ok in some parts but I didn't spen the entire film laughing. twice I really laughed. I loved the line near the end "back off Susan Boyle" that made the whole film for me and the very last screen shot of Taylor Lautner, otherwise if i hadn't gone I would have missed nothing...........

  Posted 13:29 | Mon 27th Aug 2012

• kath mahon

  Goin to see this laugh out movie again it was fantastic , lmao ahha

  Posted 17:33 | Thu 30th Aug 2012

• Tiggy

  The word 'hilarious' is used far too often (and, a lot of the time, with no good reason) in the film world. Here's another example of this. Ted is a bit of fun and (sometimes) amusing but 'hilarious'?? No! In the past I have left cinemas thinking 'what a waste of time-there's 1 1/2 hours of my life I'm never going to get back'. But, thankfully that didn't happen with Ted. It was ok- that's the best I can say about it. Over-hyped films always disappoint. Sad but true.

  Posted 20:02 | Thu 30th Aug 2012

• Odditoria

  I didn't expect much from this movie, I stopped watching Family Guy ages ago and got fed up with McFarlane's style of humor. I was completely stunned at how funny this was, I think it's the best movie I've seen in a long time. If you like stupid humor you'll enjoy this. Wahlberg was incredibly entertaining!! I was laughing so much my face hurt!

  Posted 19:08 | Thu 6th Sep 2012

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