TED

US, 2012, 112 minutes, Colour.
Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Giovanni Ribisi, Seth Mac Farlane, Patrick Warburton, Laura Vandervoort, Joel Mc Hale.
Directed by Seth Mac Farlane.

Yes, this is the comedy where a teddy bear, a little boy’s toy, comes alive after his owner wishes he could. It would be interesting to read the pitch that the producers offered to the money backers – would they have believed that you could make a money-making movie with this premiss? And would they have believed that Ted would grow up along with John, the little boy? And that Ted would be accepted by everyone, become something of a media celebrity and appear on the Johnny Carson show?

Somebody believed it could be a success because here it is – and will be a box-office success. Writer-director (and voice of Ted), Seth McFarlane? has had the courage of his convictions and gone full steam ahead.

It begins to make us laugh right from the start, with Patrick Stewart doing a sonorous voiceover, intoning the story and then landing us with some deadpan jokes – which he does throughout the film.

But, when Ted grows up, he must imagine he is Seth Rogen or some of those characters in stoner comedies like Pineapple Express. He takes easily to drugs. He has a four letter mouth. And he has a fairly sleazy attitude towards sex. This is played for laughs, making many audiences (including this reviewer) laugh despite themselves. It’s in the vein of Sacha Baron Cohen jokes – you don’t at first believe you have heard what you heard, and then you realise some satirical points are being made.

The writing, allowing for the crass, is often clever and carries the comedy. We are amused by Ted even though we might not necessarily like living with him. The film also works because of Mark Wahlberg’s performance. He is the grown-up (well not quite grown-up) John. His acting with the bear is completely convincing. He plays it straight and it works. So does Mila Kunis as John’s girlfriend who wants John to become more adult and make a decision about love and friendship.

There are quite a number of funny references to movies and actors, from ET to James Franco (who has appeared several times as a stoner). The main references and clips are from the 1980 Buck Rogers – and Sam Jones, the star, turns up at a party and in an offbeat cameo at the end.

Ted starts as cuddly, develops into a slacker, then, of course, tries to do some right things for John. Funny how such a premiss as a live bear alive and well in New York City actually works.



1. A funny film? Laugh out loud? Crass humour? The blend? The black humour and testing audience values and stances?

2. The pitch for the story, the imagination of a teddy bear coming alive, growing up? How it worked?

3. Audience suspension of disbelief, wish fulfilment for a child, the teddy bear coming alive? Having a friend? The growing up episodes, Ted and the television and the media, with Johnny Carson? Becoming an adult bear – and the reprehensible behaviour?

4. Themes of childhood, bullying, parents and their love for their son, the boy wanting a best friend, growing into an adult, falling in love with the girlfriend, responding in love, the choices between love and friendship, the tests, the ultimate decision for love?

5. Seth Mac Farlane as director? Writer? Sense of humour? His doing the voice-over for Ted? Patrick Stewart and his commentary, solemn – and descending into bathos, humorously? The rhetoric, deadpan? The jokes? Vulgarity?

6. John, the little boy, in Boston suburbs, his loving parents, Christmas, the comment about bashing the Jews? The kids’ reaction to John, not letting him play – even the boy being bashed? The gift, the bear, John’s wish, the stars, Ted coming alive?

7. Ted and John growing up, the Carson Show, people accepting Ted’s life and being alive, photo opportunities, autographs, Ted as a celebrity? People taking Ted for granted? And the audience doing the same?

8. John, in his mid-thirties, Mark Wahlberg’s credible performance with the bear? The same with Mila Kunis and her interactions with Ted? Their playing the situation straight? People and their reaction to Ted? Donny, sinister, his son Robert, the envy of the bear – and the introduction of a grim theme, the kidnapping?

9. Ted, his voice, as young, on TV, the adult Ted, the language, the jokes, his bad nature, good nature? His friendship with John, hanging out with him, the drugs? His acceptance of Lori? Yet the possible jealousy? Ted and his drug-taking, sharing with John? His sexual behaviour, his language, blunt, his job at the supermarket, his interactions with Tanya, the boss and his promoting him after all his outrageous behaviour? His going away to his apartment, setting it up, with Tanya? His stances against Lori, tempting John? The importance of Buck Rogers, the film, Sam Jones, the influence when they were young? Sam Jones at the party, John and his going to the party, becoming involved? The kidnapping, Donny, Robert? The rescue? Ted and his dying, self-sacrifice? Lori, her wish, the stars, his coming alive again?

10. The movie references, ET, James Franco, Sam Jones – and Jones at the party, the drugs, the fight? And the irony of his officiating at the wedding?

11. John, his age, yet childish, childlike? The four years with Lori? Their life together, at home? The flashback to the accidental meeting? Ted, his hanging out with him, his job, the rentals? Lori and her work, the flirting from her boss – and her reactions? His comeuppance? The possibilities for happiness? His having to make choices?

12. Lori, her character, genial, love for John? Accepting Ted? The limits? John letting her down, especially at the party? The separation? The interactions with her boss – and her antagonism towards him?

13. Tanya, the meals, the discussions? Her staying with Ted?

14. The kidnapping, the first meeting with Donny and Robert? Their taking Ted, in their apartment? The rescue?

15. The ultimate crisis, decisions, the resolution – the wedding and the happy ending?