PRINTMovie Review: Ted
Man-bear friendship is more fluff than stuff
Courtesy of Universal Pictures
June 30, 2012 | 12:00 p.m. CST
Man’s best friend is supposed to be a dog, not a teddy bear.
As a kid, John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) made a wish that his teddy bear could talk and be his friend forever. That’s one wish he never regretted, at least not until his successful and beautiful girlfriend Lori (Mila Kunis) gave him an ultimatum: her or Ted (Seth MacFarlane). John isn’t the only one dealing with a crisis; Ted catches the eye of another family interested in being his new owners.
Related MovieSeth MacFarlane, director and writer of the film, did an okay job writing the jokes to keep the audience entertained despite the shallow plot lines. The jokes are based on immature humor rather than strong wit. They weren’t crude enough to be offensive, but they also don’t brink on award winning humor either.
Mark Wahlberg was a disappointment. If it weren’t for the well-written screenplay, he wouldn’t have been funny at all. The usual action star did not shine at all, except for maybe in the small glimpse of his perfectly shaped butt that the audience gets.
As for Mila Kunis, well, she’s used to comedies and did well as the dramatic girlfriend. Her character, though semi-important, could have been played by a dozen other actresses and had the same effect on the audience.
The animation to create the cuddly yet crude teddy bear was impressive. Ted never looked like an animated character that randomly dropped into the 21st century. The fur detailing and blinking eyes made the film a little more believable.
Aside from the crude jokes and gratuitous profanity, the film doesn’t offer much of a plot or sentimental value. The humor is what carries this film from fluff to finish.
Vox Rating:
