REVIEW: 'Ted'

King of American animated comedy Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy) makes his cinematic directorial debut with this live-action comedy about one man and his foul-mouthed teddy bear. Stars Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis. Now playing nationwide.

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Despite the change of medium and method of delivery, Family Guy fans can rest assured that this surprisingly sentimental, superior stoner comedy offers the same combination of envelope-shredding humour, 80s and 90s pop culture references and stunt celebrity cameos. A 'buddy movie' version of Drop Dead Fred, Ted feels like a cross between Short Circuit, You, Me and Dupree and The Wedding Singer, but with added pot and pooh jokes.

One of the many Family Guy core cast members on show, Kunis (Friends With Benefits) once again shows how game for a laugh she is, but is sadly left on the sidelines a little, buried in amongst the sexist japes and a somewhat predictable plot. McFarlane certainly gives plenty of life to the tweeting and toking soft toy of the title, but as the character himself acknowledges, his vocals are perhaps too synonomous with Peter Griffin.

That leaves Wahlberg to carry the load, something he does with aplomb, turning his Flash Gordon-obsessed, thunder-fearing thirtysomething into an endearing man child (even if he does disappoint his female fanbase by singularly failing to take off his shirt here). Although certainly more than just bearable, Ted, while stuffed with gags, does occasionally feel a little padded.

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