BAD WORDS

US, 2014, 89 minutes, Colour.
Jason Bateman, Kathryn Hahn, Rohan Chand, Philip Baker Hall, Alison Janney, Ben Falcone, Beth Grant.
Directed by Jason Bateman.

Bad Words is an oddball comedy, directed by Jason Bateman who stars as an adult who enters a spelling bee competition with young children. He is an odd character, with an online journalist, played by Kathryn Hahn tagging along and trying to write an article about him. He is not particularly forthcoming. And, he enjoys antagonising the children as well as taunting parents and, especially, the individuals in the governing body of the competition.

He defies the authorities, quoting exceptions to the regulations and, grudgingly, they allow him to continue.

A small boy from an Indian family, Rohan Chand, seems to befriend him. They initially clash, but when the hotel has put Bateman in the store room, there comes the opportunity to go to the minibar in the boy’s room. Grudgingly, they become friends.

However, there is a twist on the friendship and it becomes a rivalry. And it is also revealed why he has entered the competition – an opportunity for revenge against the father he has never known.

There is a lot of ironic and tongue-in cheek dialogue which means that there is some literal bad language as well as language and spelling for the competition.

1. The title, the ironies? The spelling bee? Swearing and crass language?

2. The work of Jason Bateman, directing, acting?

3. The status of spelling bees in the United States? The authorities and management, the children participating, their study, their knowledge, questions about meaning and derivations of words? The parents and care for their children, pushing the children? On television?

4. The American cities, the American tone, the venues for the competition, hotels, diners, the streets? The musical score?

5. Jason Bateman as Guy, confident, his voice-over, assessment, the touch of moralising?

6. The contrast with his actions, his age, 40, involved in the spelling bee, the adult among children, his direct remarks to people, his taking his turn, spelling and getting words correct? His self-assurance? Yet his treatment of the children, goading them, making them afraid?

7. The anomaly of his being in the spelling bee? His defence, the discussions with the authorities, rules and regulations, loopholes? The reaction of the authorities? The hostile parents and their abuse, language? Dr Bowman, presiding, his stern attitude, wanting the reputation of the spelling bees to continue? Dr Deagan, 20 years on the job, her reaction, fabricating the list of difficult words for Guy? The arguments, the rules, the parents and their reaction?

8. Jenny, journalist, sponsoring Guy, getting only short answers for her article? The personal relationship, the sexual encounters, the aftermath? Her research, the source, information about his father?

9. The children, his putting them off, the panties with the boy holding them and the accusations about his mother, the girl and her period?

10. Chaitania, his age, his skills, his father’s regulations, leaving the boy on his own in the hotel? His friendship with Guy? Arguments against each other? His forthrightness? The temptation of the minibar? Their going out, the Tory, the drinks, ice cream, the effect for the competition? His taking Chaitania out, the drink, the woman and her big breasts?

11. The effect on Guy, the hotel relegating him to the storeroom, going out, enjoying himself?

12. Guy overhearing Chaitania and his father, discovering the truth, the effect on him, on the boy, his wanting to retain the friendship, his being upset?

13. The revelation of Guy’s plan, with Jenny, his mother’s story, school, the discovery of who his father was, the plan for revenge?

14. The final stages of the competition? The two remaining contestants? Guy and spelling the words wrongly, Chaitania and his doing the same? issues of cheating, the rules, their both being allowed to stay, Guy and his decision that Chaitania should win? The boy and his tribute to Guy?

15. The letter to his father, giving it to him, his father tearing it up, later putting it together, reading it, on the plane?

16. Guy, the achievement of his plan, the revelation to his father, the touch of vengeance, yet his friendship with Jenny, and the bonding with the boy?