Ted-Show Me Love, written and directed by Hannes Holm - 8.2 out of 10

Ted-Show Me Love, written and directed by Hannes Holm
8.2 out of 10


Like the popular Swedish music, this feature from the same country is pleasurable and often amusing.

We have all heard of ABBA and most of us enjoy their music, younger people have learned about their songs from the recent Mama Mia! And the sequels.
In fact, the Swedish are champions in many areas, including music production, compositions, songs they offer other musicians, labels, being only third or so in the world.

Which is extraordinary, given the relative size of the population, when compared with the other giants of the music industry, America and Britain.
Ted Gardestad, the hero of this biopic, was such a jubilant singer that he has dominated the charts and won the hearts of his fans.

Like most rock stars, although he was a pop celebrity, he was a rebel and an outlier.
His brother, Kenneth was the alter ego, the writer of the lyrics for which the talented younger siblings composed the music.

But more important than this, Ken has been the one who saved the celebrity from self destruction.
His self sacrifice was such that his girlfriend was infuriated, aghast at the fact that Ken would always pick up the phone.

Even when he would have sex, it would become coitus interruptus, because he would answer Ted's appeal.
We are reminded of There's Something About Mary, for one scene seems to be found in both films.

Ted cannot open the zipper of his pants and might find himself in the Ben Stiller posture, in the bathroom of Mary's parents' house, with the penis trapped without parole.
But he calls brother Kenneth and he is taken to the hospital, where fans ask for autographs.

When they launch their career, Ted is smart to learn from the Beatles experience and pretends not to have a tape - which is what they used at the time - with their productions.
Thus, he is able to impress with a live performance.

He would be intelligent in the next decisions, not to mention loyal to his composer.
When the amusing manager of the record label insists that they would have other lyrics, the upcoming artist refuses.

The songs are such a success that we think of another great movie:

Almost Famous

The new, young star is chased by girls and finds it difficult to escape, through the corner window.
Unfortunately, as in so many other, much more infamous cases, this new status provokes traumas, psychological breakdowns.

Ted would become the follower of a cult and travel to India to engage in rather ludicrous ceremonies.
Granted, the idea that materialistic, consumerist societies end up degrading humans is worthwhile.

Only in this case, the guru himself seems to use a Rolls Royce.
Upon his return, the obviously challenged singer is obsessed with germs.

In a restaurant, together with the family that is happy he has returned, he uses gloves.
He asks the waiter if the chef wears gloves.

Ted even scares his son - he had been married by now - and talks about AIDS, which kills you.
The figure he keeps seeing and talking to would be haunting him for a long time.

Ted Gardestad could have been a tennis champion.
When he started his career as pop star,he was about as good as Bjorn Borg.
It will not have the box office of the Bohemian Rhapsody, but Ted is not far worse.