Teddy Bear: The pursuit of true love

Love can have different forms and everyone wants to be loved in some form or the other. Love is a versatile word as well which can apply to the relationship between a mother and child, between siblings, between friends and between spouses. Of all the instances when one feels loved, the love of a spouse or a partner is one of the most desired. Almost everyone is born into a family and receives love from their immediate relative but finding someone to spend a night or the rest of your life with means much more to people. This is the story of Teddy Bear, a 2012 first full length feature film for Danish director Mads Matthiesen.

Dennis is a 38 year old bodybuilder who lives with his mother. While it is seemingly difficult for Dennis to find a date under normal circumstances owing to his overbearing figure, he is also introverted and finds it difficult to express himself as he is shy. Additionally, his mother is an overprotective and needy woman who wants her son to be at her side at all times of the day which allows him no time to meet other people. Dennis has an enormous amount of respect and devotion to his mother which adds to his problem of not dating as he does not want to disappoint her by bringing another woman into the household. However, Dennis’ views on the matter are drastically changed as his uncle returns from Thailand with a wife. Dennis is encouraged to visit Thailand and find himself a suitable mate, just like his uncle, and finally decides to slacken the bond between himself and his mother in favour of an attempt at finding a relationship with a significant other.

The film is actually a sequel of a short film made in 2007 by Mads Matthiesen which was titled Dennis. The premise of Teddy Bear picks up from Dennis, starring the same cast of mother and son, as Dennis tries once again to find love in his life. The relationship of the two is maintained over the two films with the differences only resulting from the finally outcomes of Dennis’ decisions.

The simplicity of the film is where its brilliance lies. But often, the simplicity of the film leads to it becoming monotonous and uninteresting. Most audiences believe that they are able to relate to Dennis and his lack at finding love because of being introverted and having a possessive mother but the fact of the matter is the problem in Dennis’ life is rooted much deeper than being merely introverted. Dennis has low self esteem issues and his perception of himself in other people’s eyes leads to him being introverted. His mother and problems arising due to her constant needy and possessive nature as well as Dennis’ respect for her leads to additional problems. But the main problem is in the fact that most people won’t give Dennis a second glance as a suitable mate owing to his grotesque figure. Dennis’ life as a bodybuilder picks up reactions from many people which are untoward. Although he is respected in the bodybuilding fraternity, to the rest of the world he is perceived as a ‘freakishly large man’.

Most audiences believe that they can relate to the story for the wrong reasons. In retrospect, Teddy Bear may be a good account of the life of someone who is different and trying to fit in, but it is by no means a story that applies to everyone’s lives unless they imaginatively impose Dennis’ problems in their own lives. At best, one can compare situations and identify with Dennis but not to the extent as to claim that the problems are the same.

The film is a simple account with no great dramatic finale, just something that was long coming finally happening in the end. It is an above average film but not a terrible disappointment. It is a fair reflection in the life of someone who stands out and is trying to fit in.