Bad Words **** (R) Starting a title with "Bad" has led to other dark and/or snarky comedies, ending in words like Santa or Teacher. In this one, Jason Bateman directs himself through another amusingly understated performance to fine effect. He plays a 40-year-old drone who finds a loophole in the rules for a hallowed, nationally-televised spelling bee, to compete against the nation’s best middle-school word mavens. His presence angers the promoters and the parents even more than his kiddie competition. We’re kept in the dark about his motive, but he’s obviously trying to settle some type of old score that left significant inner scars. He’s also damned good at spelling, to the consternation of everyone rooting against the taint his mere presence inflicts on the contest.
Bateman’s character is not only an enigma, but something of a jerk, as he resorts to some hilariously fiendish tactics to psych out a few young scholars he considers the most serious rivals. The acerbic wit of Andrew Dodge’s screenplay is especially praiseworthy for a feature debut. The same can be said (or written) for Bateman’s first time behind the cameras. A few scenes stray into cringe-inducement, partly in pursuit of physical energy to offset the staid milieu of spellers sitting on platforms awaiting their turns at the microphone. But the overall production is well-paced and highly entertaining. If you improve your vocabulary or spelling a bit while you’re at it, the perk is included in the ticket price. (3/21/14)