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
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merklekranz10 May 2017
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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.
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caspian197817 October 2022Like Bud Cort, this movie is weird. And not in any good weird way. Time has not made this movie a classic. Instead, it has made it inexcusable. The idea of Ted being a romantic does not come close to anything realistic. Ted is nothing less than a stalker that not only harasses his muse but breaks the law multiple times to show his love for someone who does not love back. In most of Bud Cort films, he plays the victim if not the character who sacrifices for a higher calling. Here, Bud Cort is the villain who does not know he is the villain. The movie fails to find an audience because very few can relate let alone agree with Ted's choices. Sadly, the movie had great potential with an amazing cast. However, the bottom line truth why this movie is bad is because nobody cares about the happiness let alone the struggle of Bud Cort's character .
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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. -
TD-1130 November 2003I 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.
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Frequently funny but ultimately quite disturbing, this is a film that you're never sure what the motives are. Certainly the 70's atmosphere is amusing, showing Southern California beach life at at its freakiest, a civilization that for better or worse is gone with the wind. Bud Cort brings to life a character that gets scarier as the film goes on, and not one that should be either laughed at or with, or given any sympathy. He looks like Bobcat Gothwaite which is scary enough, and fortunately doesn't sound like him. But he has all the scary elements of someone who should be in an institution with his stalking of Kim Adams (Linda), and I'm surprised that Linda's boyfriend (Brian Thompson) or best friend (Pamella D'Pella) didn't beat him up.
Then there's James Brolin in the odd role of Cort's best friend, a hippy way past the age of retirement who enables Cort's behavior, even putting up girlfriend Carol Kane to try to seduce him to get his mind off of Adams. Street poet Cort first sees her at the beach, then finds her at a volunteer social services agency, and increasingly gets more obsessed with her. This isn't a parody of other stalking films, but Cort is after a while just beyond creepy to her. Cameos by Gena Rowlands, Martin Mull, Rhea Pearlman and Woody Harrelson don't really add all that much. This is the type of film that will send the viewer to confession after laughing, or at least a hot shower to rid themselves of the filth they just watched. If the film is really guilty of anything, it's making the viewer feel amused by the first half in hopes of numbing their body to the themes of the second half. -
scottforschler27 July 2022Bud Cort's earlier movies often addressed serious issues (car theft, suicidal ideation, murder, etc.) in humorous ways. I was hoping to find similar dark comedy in this one, but frankly it's harder to find; mostly it just seems dark and stupid. Ted's obsession is entirely unreciprocated, his target wholly undeserving of his harassment, and no one in the end learns any lessons or receives (or deserves) any redemption. His lawyer's bafflement in the courtroom and a few other scenes are mildly amusing, but do little to liven the overwhelmingly unjustified threat Ted poses.
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tiwannae30 December 2003TD says that it was "painful" to watch `Ted and Venus'. That's just what Bud Cort meant to do with this film, as I see it. I own the film and have viewed it many times, and what I like about it is that Bud was very brave to bring what is basically a sad and creepy story, based on a true sad and creepy story of a poet who became manically obsessed with a social worker. It's not a pretty story about `perfect' people; it's not supposed to be. Each character in this film has flaws, though not as serious as Ted Whitley's. That, to me, is more real than a lot of films that I have seen come out of Hollywood recently-be they independent, or mainstream-made. I hope that he gets the chance to direct again.
I liked that Bud took the true story this film was based on and went one step further, and instead of the `happy' ending of the girl moving away and changing her name, and the poet's getting some much needed therapy and moving on with his life, you get a possible, if not probable, extreme ending: something that could happen if such a man as Ted crossed the line with such an obsession as his. It's basically a tale of sexual harassment, and what can happen to someone who refuses to take someone's `no' for an answer.
What I also like about it, as well, is that it's one of the few films that I have seen, which, even for it's subject matter, shows that there can be humor in such a situation. The `courtship' scenes with Kim Adams are quite funny, as are Bud's scenes with James Brolin, Carol Kane and Martin Mull, all giving fine performances.
Bud once had a friend that went through a similar experience, and after much coaxing to see it, told him, upon finally seeing the film, that there were moments she recalled which were very surreal, even comic at times! She told him that the film was a very cathartic experience for her. As in real life, there are moments that happen to us all which are comic, even though we may more often see them that way in hindsight, rather than while we are actually experiencing it.
Even though there are comic moments, the mistake that most people make about "Ted and Venus" is that just because it's a Bud Cort film, it's not supposed have any drama in it.
I say, `Bravo, Bud'!! -
Manna-231 August 1999I 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. -
Jakeroo16 June 1999Bud Cort does it all in this movie: co-wrote, directed, and starred as Ted Whitley, a walked wounded poor slob in love. It's the best portrayal of an "impaired" individual since I saw Thornton in SLINGBLADE. It's well worth a view! I rated it an 8.
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twherc15 September 2005This is an excellent movie! I won't bother mentioning the cast but there are several terrific appearances by well known actors and actresses. No, it is not the typical Hollywood comedy that relies on absurd violence and language for its gags. This is a timeless classic that is reminiscent of Don Quixote. This movie tells the truth in so many ways. It is about a sad little man who falls in love with a beautiful babe. Kim Adams is absolutely gorgeous and who could blame poor Ted for his obsession. For anyone who has been mad puppy dog in love, you get a chance to laugh at the human condition. Ted the poet has a heart of gold and in the end he gets his Venus in the only way plausible.
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katemime4 November 2018'Ted & Venus' is a very rare film that conveys the fear of a woman being stalked with an insight into why the stalker acts the way he does. It also has humorous moments without losing sight of the serious issue. Great film.
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lenakutschke18 February 2024What I love about is film, is that the amazing actor Bud Cort created it all by himself. He directed and wrote it, starred in it and I wish he would've done more projects as a Director. This may not be a movie for everyone's taste, but I think it is indeed, an artwork! I really enjoyed how the Venice Beach scene is captured and also the 70s decade. And I actually love the whole focus on poetry in this film. I think the character "Ted", that Bud created is a very interesting one. I think it's a a very desperate and tragic character. Although, the movie has quite a few funny elements. And also the lovely Carole Kane is in there. I think it's visually also a very aesthetic movie. And the soundtrack is amazing.✨