Is Mark Wahlberg's 'Ted' Just 'Bad Santa' With Bears?

Mark Wahlberg and Seth Macfarlane release their highly anticipated comedy 'Ted' this weekend, featuring a foul-mouthed, beer-swilling CGI bear. Wahlberg had the difficult task of performing scenes alone, with the cartoon creature added later by animators.

The movie has received a mix reception from critics, though Curt Johnson of BestMoviesEver.com draws parallels with another movie that took a lovable fictional character and flipped things around. He writes, "It reminded me much of Billy Bob Thornton in 'Bad Santa' where the bear is Thornton and Wahlberg is the sweet kid who gives Santa a blood stained pickle he made himself (and cut while making)". So is 'Ted' simply Bad Santa with bears? Other critics were not even so generous as to compare the movie to the brilliant Billy Bob Thornton movie, with A.O Scott of the New York Times saying, "The sin of "Ted" is not that it is offensive but that it is boring, lazy and wildly unoriginal. If Triumph the Insult Comic Dog ever got a hold of Ted, there would be nothing left but a pile of fluff and a few scraps of fur". Melissa Anderson of the Village Voice said, "Anyone over 15 ... might sit in the theater in stony silence".

The movie follows John Bennett, played by Wahlberg, who must deal with his cherished teddy bear 'Ted' who came to life as the result of a childhood wish. The film also stars Mila Kunis, and is likely to flirt with the top tier of the box-office this weekend.