It may be many young boys’ dream to have a buddy for life but, as this feature-length directorial debut by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane demonstrates, sometimes life itself just gets in the way. The film opens in 1985, in the city of Swampscott, Massachusetts, where 12-year-old John Bennett is an outcast, even in the eyes of a bullied Jewish boy. His one wish is that his teddy bear, Ted, should come to life to be his friend. And, by some miracle, this comes true.
Fast-forward 27 years and John (Mark Wahlberg) and Ted (voiced by McFarlane) are leading irresponsible adult lives together in the South End neighborhood of Boston. Enter John’s girlfriend, Lori (Mila Kunis), who holds a proper job at a fancy office. She dreams of marriage but feels she can’t take their relationship to the next level while the vulgar and obnoxious womanizer Ted is still around. The bear doesn’t want to leave his companion’s side but, unfortunately for him, human priorities get a whole lot more boring with age. So on their fourth anniversary dinner, Lori does what every self-respecting woman should and gives John an ultimatum: bromance or romance.
All sorts of obscenity follows as Ted well and truly maintains its creator’s reputation for random and often offensive hilarity. The characters are also in keeping with those in Family Guy: Ted has all of Brian’s intellect and worldliness, with more than a touch of Peter Griffin’s loveable immaturity. John is basically Peter Griffin in all his infantile glory, while Lori is a hotter and more self-sufficient version of Lois—and both women certainly share a thing for underachievers. The movie does have a slightly serious side to it, only it’s hidden well behind enough cynicism and vulgarity to placate even the most seasoned marijuana abuser. Ted is a slightly more human version of Family Guy. Some jokes work, while more than the fair share fall flat. And, of course, some things are only funny because they are coming from a talking teddy bear.