This week at the movies: an anti-hero in the form of a talking teddy bear and a hero dog take over the big screen.
Ted 2
Everyone’s favorite dirty talking, crude teddy bear, Ted, is back. This time, he’s pursuing a noble goal: personhood. He’s gotten married, and now they want to have a baby, but the courts are decreeing he can’t legally have one ‘cause he’s not really real. Cue parallels to gay rights and the fight for racial equality. Offensive? A little. But then, it wouldn’t be a Ted movie if it weren’t. Mark Wahlberg is back as his bestie. Someone give this guy an Oscar for being able to act more than once with a nonexistent, talking stuffed teddy bear. That’s a skill that I’m fairly certain no one else can lay claim to.
Perfect For: You’re a fan of director and writer Seth MacFarlane’s humor (the Family Guy and the previous Ted). You find crass talking bears adorable.
What the Critics Say: Not as well received as the last one, but then, MacFarlane’s humor is divisive. Writes Entertainment Weekly: “You realize what it must be like to be trapped in detention with a bunch of 15-year-old boys who think there's nothing more hilarious than repeating the same jokes about porn, pot, and pulling your pud over and over again. It's funny, until it's not.” But, says Variety: “In its own, sweetly subversive way, this might be just the tolerance plea America needs right now - a movie that says, in effect, ‘Love thy plushie as thyself.’"
Our Take: See it at your own risk; don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Watch the Trailer:
Max
Get out your hanky, because this is a three-hanky affair. Max is a military dog who was stationed in Afghanistan with Kyle, his owner, but when Kyle is killed in action, the soldier’s family adopts the dog. The only problem? Max is vicious and suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and it’s up to Kyle’s grieving teenage brother to rehab the dog.
Perfect For: You want a little Lassie crossed with a war movie.
What the Critics Say: Schlocky; more like a TV movie-of-the-week than a prime time flick. Writes The New York Post: “The Belgian Malinoises who play Max way out-act the humans.”
Our Take: Nope.
Watch the Trailer:
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