Bad Words: Concours de gros mots

The storyline allowed for a lot of funny moments and the movie definitely ran with it. It was hilarious and didn't stray from the plot to include any unneeded jokes (this is what draws me away from most comedies). The child, Chaitanya (Rohan Chand), was innocent and cute enough to provide a nice contrast to the unscrupulous Guy (Jason Bateman). With some heartwarming moments, this movie is more than just a rude comedy. The comedy is raunchy and vulgar though so it definitely takes a certain sense of humor to enjoy (sad to say that it is mine lol). Also, a little predictable, but that doesn't take away from the movie too much.

This a good movie. Ignore other reviews that want you to believe is bad.

I'm not a fan of Jason Bateman. I don't even like him. And seeing that he is not only the star but also the director and producer of this, makes it even worst.

Surprisingly enough this is a movie worth seeing. I'm with the professionals critics (Entertainment Weekly, Chicago Sun-Times) who gave it 3.5/4 stars or A- . I wasn't too hasty to hate it, and believe me, by the end of it, the chances are that you might actually like it.

The star of this is an anti-hero. A man who lacks the conventional heroic attributes. This movie isn't about idealism, or courage or morality. Basically it's a movie about bitterness.

The main protagonist has his own reasons to be bitter and a cynic. In a way the whole movie is his little revenge. But in his little voyage to that dark destination, he does find the good in his heart, plus an unlikely friend.

Although it starts like a comedy (and with some crude humor), the movie builds in emotions especially towards the end.

Overall: Check-it out.

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

I was blown away by the surprisingly low "6.7" current rating on IMDb. My theory: The easily offended were easily offended (perhaps the movie should have been called "Bad Words").

(Some of my favorite comedies: Dumb & Dumber, Super Troopers, and Tommy Boy).

Jason Bateman stared in, and directed, this "tightly" constructed DARK adult comedy. There was not a wasted second or single "slow" moment in the entire 89 minutes.

Everything was dead-on: The originality of the storyline, the casting, the acting, the timing, the tone, and THE KID!... I've never been a big fan of the "cute, heart-strings-pulling, kid" cliché, but you don't have to be to appreciate this kid - he takes NOTHING away from the dark humor, and only adds substantially to the film in every way. His authenticity and interaction with Bateman's character is as good as it gets (Roeper compared Bateman's spot-on apathy to Bill Murray's, and I couldn't agree more - you could just as easily picture Murray working his magic with the same degree of unflappability, esp. opposite such a contrastingly upbeat kid).

Bateman is an unassuming Rock Star that let's his talents do the talking, and I'm looking forward to the next film he directs and leads.

Another comedy movie like "A Million days to die in the west" this year where the trailer made it out to be extremely funny but the movie itself was clearly not. Hopefully in this case, the movie itself was pretty good.

Directed and Acted by Jason Bateman, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was more of a feel-good drama film instead of a comedy. There are some hilarious moments in it here and there, the movie can be offensive and abusive but hey, its name is "Bad words" so you kinda expect such things in it.

I love Jason Bateman, he is a great actor. And damn he can be one hell of a DICK, like in this movie. He is portraying a character who is ruining spelling bee contests and can't be prosecuted because of a loop hole in the rules. Kind of a unique premise, especially as far as comedies go.

Anyway, it is a decent feel-good comedy film. Worth a try, especially if you're a fan of Jason Bateman.

7.2/10