Charming, crude, and rudimentary. R-U-D-I-M-E-N-T-A-R-Y.
(Click here to see my video interview with Jason Bateman)
There is something delightfully sadistic about taking an innocent and formal pastime such as the national spelling bee and flipping it on its head through vulgarity and unabashed crudeness. Bad Words, which has already drawn comparisons to 2003’s Bad Santa, manages to find that coveted happy zone in which the audience can cheer on an antihero, even when the antihero engages in some truly despicable acts. Star Jason Bateman, who also makes his film directorial debut with Bad Words, knew that a relatable lead character with a story to tell (and legit motive) would be just as important to the success of the film as the level of crudeness. Hats off to Mr. Bateman for pulling it off, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else who could.