Bad Words (2013)

A spelling bee loser sets out to exact revenge by finding a loophole and attempting to win as an adult.

Director:

Jason Bateman

Writer:

Andrew Dodge

Stars:

Jason Bateman, Kathryn Hahn, Allison Janney

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Bateman	...	Guy Trilby
Kathryn Hahn	...	Jenny Widgeon
Rohan Chand	...	Chaitanya Chopra
Philip Baker Hall	...	Dr. Bowman
Allison Janney	...	Dr. Bernice Deagan
Ben Falcone	...	Pete Fowler
Steve Witting	...	Proctor at Spelling Bee
Beth Grant	...	Bedazzled Judge
Gwen Parden	...	Brace Faced Girl
Anjul Nigam	...	Sriram Chopra
Allan Miller	...	Bald Glasses Judge
Bob Stephenson	...	Bill Murhoff
Patricia Belcher	...	Ingrid
Matthew Zhang	...	Braden Aftergood
Madison Hu	...	Ling Quan

Storyline

An adult, who has been a school dropout, finds a loophole in the regulations and participates in the largest spelling bee in the USA, The Golden Quill. His aim is to take revenge for something done to him in the past.

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Plot Keywords:

spelling bee | spelling | two word title | directed by star | indian american | 

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Taglines:

The end justifies the mean.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for crude and sexual content, language and brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 March 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Palavrões

Filming Locations:

Sportsmen's Lodge - 12825 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$113,301, 16 March 2014, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$7,764,027, 16 May 2014

Company Credits

Production Co:

Aggregate Films, Darko Entertainment, Digital Image Associates

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Directorial debut of Jason Bateman.

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Goofs

As Guy and Jenny are driving away from the first spelling bee, a woman spits on the driver's window which sticks to that window, but it's immediately gone right after this as a man throws a folding chair at the front windshield which cracks that window.

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Quotes

Guy Trilby: You sleep good dickhead?

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Connections

References Donnie Brasco (1997)

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Soundtracks

Off the Grid
Performed by Beastie Boys
Written by Mike D (as Michael Louis Diamond), Adam Horovitz, Money Mark (as Mark Ramos Nishita) and Adam Yauch (as Adam Nathaniel Yauch)
Courtesy of Capitol Records LLC, under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Great film. A different kind of "feel-good" movie.

Other reviewers here have slated the film due to the language which I agree was a little harsh considering the age of the actors but the film would just not have worked without it. The characters were developed brilliantly all the way through and production perfect.

Saying much more would be leaning towards spoilers which are as they suggest. I will say it is funny, heart-warming and generally enjoyable.

If I had one criticism it would only be that it was a tiny bit predictable but by the end of the movie I just didn't care.

Would recommend this movie to all except those unduly sensitive to language.