Bad Words

Focus Features | Release Date: March 14, 2014

6.3	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 136 Ratings

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H4lo_K1llerMay 12, 2014

It is desperately trying to be funny and does not care about the story at all. The laughs in this film are all mean-spirited or just frat-boy gross. Last but not least the movie gives some of the most annoying characters on the big screen.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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MovieReviewsJun 14, 2014

Not a really good movie behind all that hype. Silly, trying to be serious but plays for laughs that hardly exist. Entertaining? Sure it is, but completely forgettable with positive messages that manage to not be fully delivered.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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chrisjones914Jul 17, 2014

Bad Words is truly one of the unfunniest films I've seen since Ride Along, and the sad part is that it had so much potential but it just ends up coming off as a film that's trying too hard to get a laugh out of you. Bateman is a funny guy andBad Words is truly one of the unfunniest films I've seen since Ride Along, and the sad part is that it had so much potential but it just ends up coming off as a film that's trying too hard to get a laugh out of you. Bateman is a funny guy and definitely has some talent as far as directing goes, but when it comes to writing both he and his team need to be more picky about the scripts that they choose; because this was a huge miss!… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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Tone01Dec 26, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. There's certainly plenty of room for comedy in our lives; whether a co-worker telling a joke, a TV show or film. Some comedy is universal. Some highly personal. That's why some comedians prosper in lengthy careers while others flounder and take that long, lonely trip to obscurity.

Then there's edge. In the right hands it is quite effective (like "Bad Santa" and most of "Bad Grandpa"). In the wrong hands - like these filmmakers - the result is gratuitous wallowing in ego with the belief you're right and everyone else doesn't know what's funny; The 'I Hate Myself But You're Not Cool If You Don't Like This School.' Edge without an equally effective counterbalance results in pure vileness. There you have it!

To the point. "Bad Words" is a cringe-inducing, the opposite of funny, misogynistic, misanthropic, self-loathing, racist piece of crap not suitable for human consumption presented to potential viewers on an ugly platter as a comedy.

The ubercontrived story, if you care, follows an 8th grade dropout seeking a spelling bee prize in competition against wunderkinds seeking same. His agenda lies in reaching the father who abandoned him, and who just happens to hold office as head of the spelling bee. You were spared 90 minutes of time you could have used watching paint dry - a more amusing pursuit.

High, or more appropriate, low points include: placing ketchup on a young girl's chair then congratulating her for menstruating to shame her out of the contest; leading a 10 year old kid to a bar and sneaking drinks to him under the bar then hiring a prostitute to expose her breasts to him; calling a fellow Indian contestant (the Bar kid) every possible racist term used for the race; whispering to another contestant that panties Bateman hides in his pocket belong to his mother and are a post-coital gift; telling off an angry mother by noting the flexibility of her vagina - in front of the kid. And that's just a bit of the awfulness.

Jason Bateman's co-conspirator is Kathryn Hahn; a reporter filing a story on why a 40 year old is in a kid's competition. Her portrayal of repulsion/attraction to this Peter Pan (she allows him to have sex with her but doesn't allow him look at her) is creepy. The funny she brought to the (at least) semi-bearable "We're The Millers" was wrung from her every cell here. And she's the best thing in this alleged film, one that can not be elevated even by the venerable character actor Philip Baker Hall and the wonderful Allison Janey (who is accused of being Gay and asked who wears the strapon).

Indie film has moments of brilliance. Outside Studio constraints courageous stories sometimes flourish. Some might call "Bad Words" courageous as it's unapologetic. Perhaps, but it is just not funny. More disturbing is the targets of this particularly nasty humor are pre-teen children. But, if schadenfreude is your thing... watch "The Three Stooges." (It's doubtful those who enjoy "Bad Words" have a clue about either.)

Bateman is a funny guy. His work on "Arrested Development" and other TV shows and films is excellent. The best one could hope is no one will ever let him Direct again, and that the screenwriter suffer some experience leading him to an epiphany to reflect on what he's dumping on the world.

Actually, the best outcome is all traces of this film are E-X-P-U-N-G-E-D from the planet.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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MikefromAngusJan 8, 2015

A comedy, that's not funny. This is what "Bad words" is about. The story is lame, its unfunny and extremely boring to watch! Avoid this movie at all costs!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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edawgNov 22, 2014

This is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. The acting was flat, the story was lame and predictable. The movie had zero suspense because you're not even aware of the overall plot until about 2/3rds the way through the movie. I did notThis is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. The acting was flat, the story was lame and predictable. The movie had zero suspense because you're not even aware of the overall plot until about 2/3rds the way through the movie. I did not care one bit what happened to the horribly mean spirited main character. The jokes are unfunny, generally involving either sex or cruel jokes played on children. I really don't see why that's funny, and I love stupid/cruel movies when it's done the right way (Dumb and Dumber, The Ice Harvest, etc.)

The directing is bad too, there is much lens flaring and halos which are huge distractions. The only thing good here is the kid, who is played superbly and is by far the most entertaining part of the movie.

While I did chuckle a few times, overall I was pretty much waiting to be surprised/entertained, and wondering when that might happen. And then the credits started to roll and I knew it never would.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Benkoko11Feb 23, 2017

Most of the chuckles derive from Bateman's unabashed, perhaps misguided, disregard for political correctness, yet the whole thing is much less subversive as it is cheaply provokative.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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