Ted

Released: 1st August 2012

Directed By: Seth MacFarlane

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane

Certificate: 15

Reviewed By: Ben Harris

A lonely young boy, John Bennett, makes a wish for his teddy to come to life and luckily for John his wish is granted. Now thirty-five years old, John (Mark Wahlberg) is stuck in a dead end job and spends most of his time smoking pot with his stuffed friend (voiced by Seth MacFarlane). Their friendship is tested when John’s girlfriend, Lori (Mila Kunis), wants Ted to move out so they can focus on their relationship.

Foul-mouth, racist and homophobic – words you wouldn’t associate with a cuddly teddy bear, until now. With a surprising concept at hand, Seth MacFarlane, creator of Family Guy, breaks away from the small screen with his feature film debut.

If your familiar with MacFarlane’s humour you expect gutsy dialogue, but ‘Ted’ takes it one step further, milking every opportunity to materialise offensive exchanges. Although falling short on some jokes and banter, ‘Ted’ is, for the most part, very funny. Undoubtedly, if sensitive, it could rub individuals the wrong way and a large portion of the film feasts on pop culture but generally you’ll be basking in Ted’s absurdity – hopefully.

However, towards the finale the careless atmosphere begins to dry up and ‘Ted’ takes an awkward turn. The dark proceedings play down the crude content and eventually MacFarlane replaces the comedy altogether with soft-heartedness. Whilst its intentions are good, it comes across slightly out of place.

Mark Wahlberg, on the other hand, fits effortlessly into Ted’s world. The guy has great charisma, handling comedy easily and showcasing his softer side. Like always, Mila Kunis is a welcoming presence and Seth MacFarlane takes the crown for his comedic attributes, and some unexpected cameos are an added bonus.

Rather than relying on immature gags, ‘Ted’ could’ve found more ways to summon laughs, but you can’t help fall for MacFarlane’s stupidity.