Culture

From the creator of TV comedies such as Family Guy and American Dad, Seth MacFarlane (who also voices the main character of Ted) brings us this crude, rude and hilariously indecent film about a young boy who wishes for his teddy bear to come to life. His dream comes true, and the film flashes forward 27-years. John (Mark Wahlberg) is an adult, and his bear Ted is now preventing his long-term relationship from progressing. John’s girlfriend (Mila Kunis) is urging him to separate from Ted in order to move forward, and this predicament shapes the rest of the movie.

Ted is a typical coming-of-age film, but interspersed amongst the major elements of the storyline are sex, drugs, and fart jokes that will keep you howling with laughter. The film is R13, as I was informed when I rocked up to the sweets counter with my four-year-old in tow. It takes the piss out of every conceivable sexual, religious, and racial stereotype. For this reason it should be avoided by those who are easily offended! If you can stomach Little Britain, and can endure a scene with an angelic-looking teddy bear explicitly humping supermarket checkout equipment, then you will be able to tolerate this film.

The animation was outstanding, but some parts of the film felt a little disjointed, and there was a significant lull in the middle where the storyline became slightly directionless. Because the bear was “born” in the 1980s, the movie is packed with pop culture references and would be of particular enjoyment to children of the 80s (anyone remember Flash Gordon?). A few average parts, but all in all a good laugh.

4/5 stars