Those who dislike four letter words may not be thrilled with the new comedy opening this week. Many have described it as a variation on Bad Santa set at a spelling bee. Indeed, that’s a fairly accurate log line. But while Bad Words is certainly foul mouthed and politically incorrect, it is also quite funny.
Star Jason Bateman has taken on darker characters in the past, but is known most recently for playing calm, nice-guy protagonists. Perhaps that’s why, for his directorial debut, the actor gives himself a role completely against type and runs with it. In this film, he plays Guy Trilby, an angry, misanthropic, middle-aged genius on a determined quest to win The Golden Quill, a national spelling bee title. Demanding his inclusion based on the fact that anyone without a high school diploma can qualify, there’s little contest authorities can do to stop him. Guy has no issues playing mind games or manipulating his competitors; nor is he bothered by the angry parents who are at times equally nasty. Of course, it’s a much rougher road to the top than even he anticipates when several spelling bee heads (Allison Janney and Philip Baker Hall) do their best to foil his efforts.
The situation is ripe for both conflict and comedy and for the most part the film delivers. In between the expected scenes in which Guy torments his young opponents, there are a couple of interesting relationships that develop. The first is with Jenny (Kathryn Hahn), a journalist sponsoring his bid for champion and working on an expose, all the while attempting to break him down and uncover his motivations. It’s a complex affiliation considering she is at once repelled and fascinated by Guy. Of course, it leads to some inappropriate but very funny interactions.
Still, the highlight is Guy’s growing friendship with Chaitanya Chopra (Rohan Chand), his main rival in the competition. Guy’s dismissive insults soon cease when he realizes that the cheerful Chaitanya is so isolated and lonely that his best friend is a binder named Todd. The pair go out on the town and participate activities completely inappropriate for a minor. Chaitanya is a sweet contrast to the crude Guy and many of the film’s best moments involve their complicated relationship as both friends and fierce competitors. This also leads to perhaps the funniest single gag in the movie, which involves the fate of the aforementioned Todd.
This wouldn’t work at all if the political incorrectness was intended simply to shock. Thankfully, there is a deranged purpose to Guy’s actions. Misguided though it may be, it helps viewers to understand that his nastiness and the seemingly random cruelty of others can come from a place of personal troubles and hurt feelings. The movie goes a little too far in its final scene, wrapping events up in too neatly and nicely a manner, but overall the movie makes its point without resorting to overly sentimental methods.
Bad Words is intentionally wince-inducing and has its share of uncomfortable comments, but that’s the point. It’s a short, effective, amusingly jarring and without question a very memorable directorial debut from Mr. Bateman.