[Screen It]

 

"BAD WORDS"
(2014) (Jason Bateman, Rohan Chand) (R)


Alcohol/Drugs Heavy
Blood/Gross Stuff Moderate
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude Heavy
Frightening/Tense Scenes None
Gun/Weapons None
Imitative Behavior Extreme
Jump Scenes None
Music (Scary/Tense) None
Music (Inappropriate) Mild
Profanity Extreme
Sex/Nudity Extreme
Smoking Minor
Tense Family Scenes Moderate
Topics to Talk About Moderate
Violence Mild


QUICK TAKE:
Comedy: A 40-year-old man uses a loophole in the rules to compete in a national spelling bee competition.
PLOT:
Guy Trilby (JASON BATEMAN) is a 40-year-old man who's on an unusual quest to win the National Quill Spelling Bee. Since he never formally made it past the 8th grade in his education, he's using that loophole in the rules to compete as he makes his way from winning one competition after the next on his way to the national championship. Accompanying him is Jenny Widgeon (KATHRYN HAHN), an online newspaper reporter who's trying to get to the bottom of his peculiar behavior for a story she's doing, but so far he's determined not to give her much info, although that doesn't stop him from sleeping with her.

Less open is spelling bee director Dr. Bernice Deagan (ALLISON JANNEY) who is less than thrilled at the prospect of having an adult in the contest, a sentiment shared with National Quill president Dr. Bowman (PHILIP BAKER HALL) who's also working the event as a TV announcer alongside Pete Fowler (BEN FALCONE). What Guy doesn't expect, however, is having 10-year-old competitor Chaitanya Chopra (ROHAN CHAND) as his unwelcome constant companion. The boy, who's quite good, seems lonely and in need of a friend, even if it's someone like Guy who constantly insults and tries to ward off the kid.

Yet, as the competition continues and the number of competitors dwindles, Guy ends up somewhat softening toward Chaitanya , all while Jenny tries to get her story and Dr. Deagan and Dr. Bowman do their best to get rid of the man.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Older teens might be drawn to the R-rated comedy angle (and younger kids interested in spelling bees might be enticed), while fans of those in the cast could be interested as well.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R
For crude and sexual content, language and brief nudity.


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