TED directed by Seth MacFarlane, 106 min. Opens Friday (June 29). See times. Rating: NNNN
With jokes about race, sexual orientation and religion, Ted is guaranteed to offend someone. But really, who cares when it’s this fucking hilarious?
At least the cute cuddly titular teddy spews ticklish, quick-witted, toxic verbiage evenly. Every minority and majority gets its chance to shine – very democratic, it must be said, of Seth MacFarlane.
The Family Guy creator makes the big screen his bitch in his feature debut, as co-writer, director and voice of the teddy, a knee-high toy bear who comes to life when the child who owns him makes a wish for a friend.
Mark Wahlberg plays that child, John, grown-up but still attached to that bear. Ted, however, has become a pot-smoking, beer-guzzling, hooker’s best friend, who enables John to avoid responsibilities and provokes the ire of his long-time girlfriend (Mila Kunis).
The plot may be silly and predictable, but you immediately forget that Wahlberg and Kunis, both doing a wonderful job playing it straight, are co-starring with a CGI toy that would beat the stuffing out of Elmo. Ted’s just one of the boys, like that clever friend of yours who refuses to abandon his vulgar lifestyle and make more of himself.
The movie taps into the foul-mouthed man-child in all of us to deliver a raunchy good time.
