Director: Seth MacFarlane
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane, Joel McHale, Giovanni Ribisi, Patrick Warburton, Matt Walsh, Jessica Barth, Aedin Mincks, Patrick Stewart, Norah Jones, Tom Skerritt, Ryan Reynolds, Sam Jones
Rating: (R13)
3 stars (out of 5)
It is impressive except for the feeling that he is just making different versions of the same show with the same sorts of random jokes in each one. Anyway, in Ted (Rialto and Hoyts), the incongruous character is Ted (voiced by Seth MacFarlane), a large teddy bear who was wished to life by his lonely owner.
Ted was a sensation for a while and then the public moved on. He and John (Mark Wahlberg) have grown up together and remain best pals. While John has some of the trappings of adulthood, a job and a loving girlfriend Lori (Mila Kunis), he is always ready to goof off with Ted.
Meanwhile, Ted, who started off as a sweet huggie bear type, has grown into a foul-mouthed stoner who sounds just like Family Guy's Peter Griffin. So if you are a teenage boy, Ted is a neat guy to hang out with.
There are laughs in this story of a potty-mouthed soft toy, but MacFarlane takes too long to wrap it all up, letting audience fatigue set in.
Best thing: The signature all-out fight. Watching Mark Wahlberg being pummelled by a knee-high soft toy is oddly gratifying.
Worst thing: The R13 classification is tough on 13-year-olds who look younger, as this is going to be the must-see school holiday movie for high schoolers.
See it with: The ability to do that stupid Peter Griffin laugh. The people you are watching with will thank you - honest.
- By Christine Powley.
