Watch Bad Words

Bad Words is a 2013 comedy-drama directed by Jason Bateman, marking his solo directing debut. Bateman plays the lead character of Guy Trilby, a 40-year-old man who finds a loophole in the rules for a national spelling bee and decides to enter the competition in order to exact revenge on an old nemesis. The film also stars Kathryn Hahn as a reporter who becomes interested in Trilby's story, and Allison Janney as the director of the spelling bee.

The movie begins with Guy Trilby applying for the Golden Quill spelling bee, which is meant only for children under the age of 10. His application is initially rejected by Dr. Bernice Deagan (Allison Janney), but he finds a loophole that allows him to compete. Guy is motivated by a deep desire for revenge against a former acquaintance, who is now a successful journalist, and entering the spelling bee is his plan to embarrass him.

As Guy continues his journey through the spelling bee, he is relentlessly rude to everyone he meets, including the other contestants, their parents, and the organizers of the spelling bee. Along the way, he meets Chaitanya Chopra (Rohan Chand), a young boy who befriends him and becomes his teammate. Together, they work their way through the competition, but Guy's true intentions come to light as the story progresses.

Kathryn Hahn plays Jenny Widgeon, a reporter who is covering the spelling bee and becomes intrigued by Guy's story. She approaches him to get his side of the story, and he reluctantly agrees to let her follow him on his journey. They develop a complicated relationship, with Jenny trying to understand Guy's motivations and personal history.

The movie is a dark comedy, with plenty of scathing one-liners and biting humor. But at its heart, Bad Words is a character study of Guy Trilby and the reasons behind his actions. Through flashbacks, we see Guy's past and how he was mistreated as a child, which has led him to become embittered and vengeful as an adult. His relationship with Chaitanya is one of the highlights of the movie, as you see him start to soften and take a genuine interest in a child for the first time in years.

One of the standout aspects of the film is its aesthetic. Shot in widescreen and desaturated colors, Bad Words has a distinct look and feel that sets it apart from other comedies. The soundtrack is also notable, featuring an eclectic mix of classic rock and classical music.

Overall, Bad Words is a successful directorial debut from Jason Bateman, who has proven himself as adept behind the camera as he is in front of it. The performances are excellent across the board, particularly from Bateman and Chand, who have great chemistry together. The story is engaging and keeps you guessing until the end, and the humor is sharp and witty. If you're a fan of dark comedies or just looking for a movie that's not afraid to push boundaries, Bad Words is well worth checking out.

Bad Words is a 2014 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 57.