Ted & Venus

I enjoyed the first 15 minutes of this movie. After that all I could do was cringe at this movie and each and every character in it. Stay away. I don't understand why anyone would make a movie like this. I can only imagine that half of the audience walked out.

Make no mistake, "Ted & Venus" is not an easy watch. It is however daring in a way most films fail. Obviously willing to take chances with questionable themes like stalking, obsession, and madness, the movie treads ground that many audiences will not appreciate. If however, you are entertained by the likes of "Where's Poppa?", "Eating Raoul", and of course "Harold and Maude", then you will revel in some of the the dark comedy here. There is a courtroom scene that is especially funny, and there are sporadic situations and dialog that are excellent. It's just that the whole movie feels uneven and this choppiness may be due to a difficult edit? Bud Cort should have realized that beauty is only a light switch away. - MERK

Ted and Venus is a one-of-a-kind movie, but not recommended for mainstream film-lovers, due to its excessive black humor and satiric look at stalking and sexual harassment- a subject that can offend many. On the other hand, Bud Cort's masterful demonstration of the comedic side of such a sticky topic can shed light on a new way in which to view predators and obsession, even for those who have experienced what the main character, Lisa, did. Cort mentioned in a Pacific Radio Interview and a Victoria Looseleaf Interview that he has met/known women who, after having been stalked and viewed "Ted and Venus," were amazed to find themselves seeing the humor in such a situation. The latter is proof of this film's uncanny ability to capture the attention of, and delight the viewer.

Besides the amazing star-studded cast, Cort is the hi-light of the movie. Having co-written, directed, and starred in it, he delivers one of the best performances of his career. He adds an empathetic, almost gentle element to Ted. A part of us wants to sympathize with him because he is sensitive, vulnerable, and at times innocent. It is easily forgettable that he is the antagonist, and deranged. For a first-time director/writer, the script is excellent, and the film is well-paced, convincing, and enjoyable.

Ted and Venus is a miniature masterpiece, deserving much more recognition.

I cannot understand why this film did not receive higher acclaim than what I have seen on IMDB. This movie was a masterpiece within its own genre. This movie shows us, those who are stuck in the 90's desperately wishing we could transport to another era, how one man can be both highly understood yet highly unstable. The conclusion of this film brought us to the understanding that no matter how "dangerous" Ted may have seemed, he was only a victim of his own comprehension. This movie was truly a masterpiece in that in delved into the mind of someone most Movie Goers could never understand. The entire intention was to show how limited most humans can be, and at the end of the film, even the "tortured" Linda realizes the true intent of the wayward and mentally unstable Ted.

Love and acceptance means everything.. even enough to risk one's fate and freedom.

As Bud Cort's first attempt at direction, Ted and Venus is able to retain a certain degree of charm but in many respects falls short of a "good" movie. Although the basic idea of the film is intriguing, the plot is both weak and uninteresting. Bud Cort delivers a well-mediated and convincing performance, but fails to instill whatever formula is needed for a thoroughly entertaining movie. Except for the most die-hard Bud Cort/Harold and Maude fans, this movie should definitely be avoided at all costs.