Mostly a crowd pleaser I'd say if you know what you're getting in to.

Rating: 8/10 (4 July 2012)

'TED': Four Stars (Out of Five)
Seth MacFarlane (the creator of 'FAMILY GUY') makes his feature-length live-action directorial debut (with some computer animation)! The film stars Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis with MacFarlane voicing the computer animated title character. MacFarlane directed and co-wrote the screenplay along with two other 'FAMILY GUY' writers (Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild). The film is a fantasy comedy film about a teddy bear that comes to life to grant a child's wish and becomes a burden on his romantic relationship when he's a grown man. The movie is surprisingly well made for MacFarlane's first feature effort and more hit than miss with laughs. It's mostly a crowd pleaser I'd say if you know what you're getting in to.
Wahlberg stars as John Bennett. As a child John was an outcast and had no friends so when his parents get him a stuffed teddy bear for Christmas he makes it his imaginary best friend. One day he wishes that the stuffed bear could talk back to him and a falling star grants him that wish. The two grow up together and the teddy bear, known as Ted (MacFarlane), helps John overcome his insecurities. Their friendship is finally put to the test though when John's girlfriend of four years, Lori (Kunis), wants John to stop spending so much time with Ted so they can further their relationship together.
The movie is crude and vulgar but nothing more than one should expect from the creator of 'FAMILY GUY'. MacFarlane's direction is surprisingly impressive and the jokes for the most part work (which is more than I'd say for 'FAMILY GUY'). Wahlberg is good and likable in the lead and the movie actually has a lot more heart than you'd expect from it. It's actually a positive story of friendship that could have played out the same way even if one of the characters wasn't a magical stuffed bear. It's about how much love and time you give to those who are most important in your life. It's also of course extremely raunchy and hilarious at times but there's definitely heart to it and it's a good, well intentioned buddy film!
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