The foul-mouthed bear is back, and he’s lost none of his bite. Ted 3 (2025) reunites Mark Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane for another round of raunchy comedy that somehow manages to balance absurdity with surprising sweetness. From the very first scene, it’s clear that the film isn’t here to play safe—it’s here to push boundaries, deliver big laughs, and remind audiences why a teddy bear with an attitude problem became a pop culture icon.
The plot picks up with John and Ted stumbling into middle age with the same immaturity that made them inseparable in the first two films. This time, though, the stakes feel higher—not because the story veers into melodrama, but because both characters are forced to confront what “growing up” really means when you’ve spent your entire life refusing to do so. Predictably, their attempts at responsibility spiral into disaster, giving MacFarlane endless opportunities for the kind of shock comedy that defined the franchise.
Seth MacFarlane’s voice work as Ted remains razor-sharp, a perfect mix of charm and vulgarity. He delivers lines with such conviction that you forget you’re watching CGI—it feels like Ted is as alive as any other actor on screen. Wahlberg, once again, plays the ideal foil: the straight man who manages to be both exasperated by Ted’s antics and completely incapable of living without him. Their chemistry hasn’t dulled, and it’s the film’s beating heart.
The comedy is as outrageous as ever, with sequences that range from hilariously offensive banter to full-blown slapstick chaos. A wild night out gone wrong serves as one of the film’s standout set pieces, packed with visual gags, shocking cameos, and a level of absurd escalation that only a Ted film could pull off. It’s crude, yes, but it’s also executed with a kind of comedic precision that makes the outrageous feel oddly brilliant.
But beneath the avalanche of inappropriate humor, Ted 3 sneaks in genuine emotion. John and Ted’s friendship has always been the series’ core, and here it’s tested in ways that feel both funny and unexpectedly moving. Without slipping into sentimentality, the movie explores how loyalty and love—however unconventional—can carry you through even the most ridiculous of situations.
Visually, the film looks sharper than ever. The blending of live-action and CGI is seamless, with Ted’s expressions and movements more lifelike than in previous entries. This gives MacFarlane even more room to push comedic timing, as Ted’s reactions land with pitch-perfect precision. Director MacFarlane also stages the chaos with flair, ensuring the film feels big without losing its scrappy, offbeat tone.
One of the most impressive feats of Ted 3 is its ability to balance nostalgia with freshness. Fans of the first two films will find all the crude humor and pop culture references they crave, but the script also finds clever ways to poke fun at the passage of time. Watching Ted wrestle with “adult” responsibilities like taxes or relationships is just as funny as seeing him wreck a bar with John.
Supporting performances add flavor to the mix, with new characters who amplify the duo’s insanity rather than dilute it. Cameos are plentiful, often used as punchlines themselves, and they give the film an unpredictable edge—every new scene could swing from heartfelt bonding to celebrity-skewering absurdity in an instant.
Ultimately, Ted 3 doesn’t aim to reinvent the wheel—it aims to roll it downhill at breakneck speed while shouting obscenities. And in that sense, it’s a total success. It delivers exactly what fans want: filthy jokes, outrageous set pieces, and the reminder that friendship can thrive even in the most inappropriate circumstances.
For some, the humor will be too much—it’s unapologetically vulgar, proudly offensive, and gleefully juvenile. But for those who’ve been along for the ride since 2012, this third installment is everything they’ve been waiting for: bigger laughs, bigger chaos, and the same ridiculous bear who’s as impossible to hate as he is to take seriously.
He’s ruder. He’s cruder. And yes—he’s still stuffed.
