COARSE humour has been around for millennia and only prudes would gainsay it. Satire of public institutions, human frailties and cultural habits has nourished literary invention throughout written history. Consequences of a mating of these styles can be fun, not necessarily with high aesthetic or moral values but confirmation that laughter is indeed a good medicine.

Filmmaker Seth MacFarlane has once again convened his repertory group to continue the life of Ted, the soft teddy bear that has lived as John’s (Mark Wahlberg) buddy for six years. This time, Ted marries Tami-Lynn (Jessica Barth) a woman of many experiences, mostly on the edge of decency and taste. Ted wants a baby. He’s not equipped to sire one. Adoption is the way to go. Adoption involves bureaucracy and paperwork. Ted finds himself deleted from every database.

American films and TV series adore judicial disputation. Hiding in a murky underworld is Donny (Giovanni Ribisi) who has a plan to kidnap and eviscerate Ted to learn what makes him tick. John engages Samantha (Amanda Seyfried) fresh out of law school to represent Ted in an action to prove that he is a person, not an object. The court finds for the respondents. Ted’s future looks bleak. Famous civil rights attorney Meighan (Morgan Freeman) refuses to represent him, saying an appeal cannot succeed.

Out of those plot fundamentals MacFarlane has crafted a film with few cultural, sociological or artistic niceties but with one saving grace. Not exactly graceful, but I’ve covered that in the opening paragraph.

At Hoyts, Capitol 6, Palace Electric and Limelight