Really depends on whether you like Family Guy or not (SPOILER)

Rating: Null/10 (10 November 2012)

The plot here centers around a bear that magically came to life due to the wish of a young boy. After a brief introduction where we see this bear be a celebrity and the world be captivated by him, we jump forward in time where the world has gotten used to it and life has gone on and now the boy and his bear are still friends but friends that some week, work in low-level jobs and try to get their lives together. In terms of plotting this is focused on the relationship between John and Lori in regard how Ted messes it up – it is a very simple plot that allows for lots of crude yet funny escapades along the way. A sub-plot about another family who wants the bear seems to exist solely to provide a dramatic conclusion and doesn't really fit.
This very simple plot means that the film will stand or fall based on the viewer's sense of humor. If you like Family Guy with its non-PC characters, crude tone and constant reference points then the film will more than likely work for you, if not then it probably won't. The reason for this is because the wit and humor is very specific; it is unfair to suggest it is not intelligent just because it is crude, but it is worth saying that this isn't Woody Allen any more than it is as basic as pratfalls or fart jokes. The majority of the jokes come from the creation of Ted – specifically that he is a teddy bear who says terrible things, does drugs and hangs out with hookers – it is a simple character in that regard and the humor follows that pattern. The delivery is what makes it work though.
MacFarlane may be rather one-note, but that note is a good one. His writing and delivery of lines is generally very funny and it is telling that I never even once thought about what a good "special effect" Ted was (although he is) because I was too busy thinking of him as a character. Wahlberg also deserves a lot of credit; as daft as the film is or as demeaning as some of his performance is, he always goes with it and his performance with his invisible co-star is really good whether it is in dialogue scenes or in the more physical scenes. Likewise Kunis goes with it really well and manages to do enough to carry the actual plot while also helping the comedy.
It isn't a brilliant film though and even fans of MacFarlane will acknowledge there are bits that don't work or that really force the point. For example as a child of the era, I loved the Flash Gordon references and the silly extent to which it takes them, but mostly it wasn't particularly smart so much as it was wonderfully silly and as a result I imagine many others will see it as tiresomely silly. The plot is simplistic and messy, the humor is mostly crude and the references are generally heavy, but it had me laughing and the performances from the lead three are all strong as they "get it" and their delivery really helps the whole thing hang together.