Movie Review: 'Ted' is Raunchy, But Bearable

One way to beat the heat is to go to the movies.

A little boy gets a cuddly teddy bear for Christmas and, after making a wish, the bear begins to talk. Twenty years later, Johnny (Mark Wahlberg) and his teddy bear (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) live together as roomies who smoke pot, watch cartoons, and avoid growing up in "Ted."

John's longtime girlfriend, Lori (Mila Kunis), waits patiently for a proposal but something has to be done about his foul-mouthed furry sidekick. John seems genuinely torn between them, making two humans and one bear a pretty convincing dramatic triangle. 

The storyline is a bit weak, even though it is funny to see a sweet-looking stuffed animal sucking down bong hits, drinking, swearing and making vulgar gyrations when he spots an attractive woman he wants to date. The movie, however, has some heart. Any comedy that makes you actually feel something for a bear with a hooker habit has something going for it. 

Ted is directed, written and co-starred by MacFarlane, creator of "Family Guy." This is a guy movie with a pile of filthy, ethnically offensive jokes, scatological humor, tacky pop culture references and random cameos, and it begins to wear thin.

The Flick-O-Meter gives "Ted" three out of five. The film does have some heart but the ending seemed a bit contrived. Wait, it is about a talking teddy bear, so never mind about that. It is a bit raunchy and over the top. “Ted” may be best enjoyed while enjoying the same mind-altering sub­stances ingested in the movie. After the novelty of a cussing vulgar bear wears off, though, so does the buzz.

"Ted" is showing at the AMC Essex Green Cinema. Click here for showtimes.

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