Bad Words: Concours de gros mots (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 | forty something | high school dropout | spelling | two word title | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jason Bateman's favorite movie of his own

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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

Proctor at Spelling Bee: So, are you a judge?
Guy Trilby: No. I'm the WINNER.

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Connections

Referenced in Midnight Screenings: Sabotage/Noah/God's Not Dead (2014)

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Soundtracks

Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in D-Major Op.61
Written by Ludwig van Beethoven
Courtesy of APM Music

User Reviews

TIFF Review: Bad Words, Night Film Reviews www.nightfilmreviews.com

It's very rare that I find myself lost in the narrative, characters and the comedy that I forget altogether that I am watching a movie intent on criticizing it. Jason Bateman's (Horrible Bosses, Up In the Air) directorial debut Bad Words did just that–allow me to lose myself to laugh so hard with such shocking moments that I almost forgot I had to review the film.

Bad Words is a short, sweet and unexpectedly dark comedy with instances of pure vulgarity and vileness that is at the same time, heartwarming–yes, you read that right.

For one, Bad Words was the first ever straight-up comedy I have ever experienced at TIFF. Of course, so many movies have heavy comedic instances, but I can assure you, Bad Words will have you laughing so hard, that at times, you'll find it hard to hear the next bit of dialogue (I'm warning you from experience).

The film opens with unexplained genius Guy Trilby (Jason Bateman) entering himself in a regional spelling bee, with a brief flashback explaining how he has been able to register legally. From the moment the movie starts, Bateman has the audience in tears and on the floor laughing, winning the regional bee sending him off to the national bee, in hot pursuit of all the angry parents and students who he beat at the regionals. Once Bateman makes it to the super bowl of spelling bees, The Golden Quill, along with his travelling documenting reporter (Kathryn Hahn, We're The Millers), hilarity and vulgarity ensue.

The mystery behind Trilby's anger with the world, constant bitterness and his obsession with winning the bee is at the centre of the film, along with his inability to allow anyone get close enough for him to care, drive the narrative. The blend of Bateman's dark direction and stylistic choices, along with screenwriter Andrew Dodge's fiercely morbid dialogue allow for the experience to be natural and so unexpected.

I have no idea if either Bateman or Dodge were inspired at all with the work of Bobcat Goldthwait (World's Greatest Dad, God Bless America) and his darkly satirical body of work, but if I was told that was another addition to that list of black comedy, I would not doubt it. The envelope is constantly being pushed in Bad Words. Each character Trilby interacts with, whether it be for an extended period of time, or just shortly, Bateman nails each and every scene with a natural sense of arrogance. Trilby's scenes with "slumdog" (Rohan Chand), a lonely prostitute on the street, or a victimized man going to a washroom stall, are some of the best in the film.

Bateman undoubtedly has a keen eye for comedy. Rude, crude and sometimes completely uncalled for, Bad Words was a pleasant change of pace during TIFF and surely one of the most memorable comedies of the year.

Expect Bad Words in a theatre near you. And the only thing bad about it, is how much you will find yourself laughing at the most inappropriate things, da*#it!

Night Film Reviews: 7.5/10 Stars

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 March 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bad Words: Concours de gros mots

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

Gross USA:

$7,779,614

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,804,337

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