Movie review: Ted ***

Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth McFarlane
Director: Seth MacFarlane
Rated: R
Showing: Speciality Cinema week of Friday, August 31. For more information call 292-2135.
Tickets: Buy tickets online
Runtime: 106 minutes
Comedy

Creator of Family Guy, American Dad and The Cleveland Show Seth McFarlane has veered off from animated television to direct his first feature film - Ted.

John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) is 35 years old and still lives with his childhood teddy bear Ted.

The bear came to life 26 years earlier after Bennett wished he could have a talking teddy who would love him as a friend and support him through the tough times.

His wish comes true and Ted quickly becomes a media celebrity — he gets the full child-star treatment, including magazine covers and an appearance on The Johnny Carson Show.

But later in life Ted causes John trouble, creating tension between him and his girlfriend of four years Lori (Mila Kunis).

The relationship suffers and John is forced to choose between the two.

The plot is similar to the sub-genre comedy known as Bromance, such is seen in films like Shaun of the Dead.

While the story of men struggling to come to terms with adulthood is fast becoming a cliché, MacFarlane manages to make a great success of this film. It is funny, it is dirty, and it takes full advantage of its R rating.

To top it off McFarlane is the voice of Ted — with a thick Bostonian accent to challenge Wahlberg’s — and using motion capture techniques, he also does the bear’s movements.

You won’t forget the obscene Thunder Buddies song in a hurry, or the scene in which John tries to guess the name of the white trash girl Ted wants to marry.

Ted is stuffed full of hilarious gags.

Seth McFarlane is a refreshing new addition to the movie industry.

Next attraction: The Bourne Legacy