‘Bad Words’ by screenwriter Andrew Dodge, is comedy actor Jason Bateman’s directorial debut. He is best known for his roles in  Arrested Development, Juno, Up In The Air and Horrible Bosses. Bateman also stars in the film along with young Rand Chand (Jack and Jill, Homeland). The film premiered at TIFF’13 in Toronto and was an immediate audience hit. The plot is simple though novel and unique. Guy Trilby (Bateman) is a grown man and high school-dropout who exploits a loophole in order to enter a national children’s Spelling Bee, which he is determined to win. He is sponsored by Jenny Widgeon (Kathryn Hahn), a web news writer who is looking for a hot story. While Bateman brings one of the most lure characters to the screen and it is without doubt also his funniest. The dialogue this genius immature man brings forward rides the line between hilarity and obscene inappropriateness. At moments you wonder if the jokes are in bad taste, yet this boundary pushing comedy is extremely effective when mixed with Bateman’s typecasting as the ‘do-gooder’ and his penchant for subtly.

We often see modern comedy films that are filled with comedians; that is to say we see typical plots made funny by what amounts to stage comedians basically performing their acts or telling jokes throughout a scene. The comedy in ‘Bad Words’ has a natural sort of flair and it always manages to service the story all the while providing laughs. While the relationship between Hahn and Bateman provides for some laughs and plot momentum the true character development and connection is brought forth through the character Chaitainya (Rohan Chand), a young Indian boy who is competing in the spelling bee. When Chand and Bateman become friends they spark an exploration into their reasons for being in the Spelling Bee. The film manages to bring its characters’ motivations to light in an interesting way while providing the audience the opportunity to see the evolution of these characters.

With not a single joke missed and with truly breakout performances across the cast (though Hahn plays one of her many familiar and hilarious types), ‘Bad Words’ is an unbridled success. It is a knockout directorial debut from Bateman who can not only carry the film but direct his cast and bring forth a truly hilarious comedy far from the mould.

Max Romano