Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Bad Words (2013)

What is it about?

A forty-year old adult finds a loop-hole in the rules of the national spelling bee to avenge personal reasons from his childhood. 

Who is in it? 

Jason Bateman - Guy Trilby

Kathryn Hahn - Jenny Widgeon

Rohan Chand - Chaitanya Chopra

Favorite Scene:

While on the flight to the national spelling bee, Chaitanya turns around and immediately attempts to become friends with Guy who wants none of it. 

Favorite Quote: 

"Your chair called me for help. It was like, 'help me...he's so heavy'"

Review: 

Going into viewing Bad Words, knowing it was directed by Jason Bateman, I expected lots of crude and graphic humor. The trailer was in fact pretty funny, especially the line regarding the chair and the overweight kid. Bad Words lends itself to more of this type of humor throughout the movie as Bateman, in the role of Guy Trilby, carries the film. 

Bad Words is exactly what you would expect. It's funny, it has it's uncomfortable moments of comedy that feel like it crosses the line, and it tells a decent story. Not the greatest story, but it's simply and basic enough for interest, and for replay purposes. There are a few moments. at least for me, where hearing a child being either cursed at or using foul language, just felt uncomfortable. Especially, when that child is Rohan Chand, who I just recently saw in the super serious role in Lone Survivor. 

Regardless of the moments of ill-comfort, Bad Words is just entertaining enough to watch, but one of those films you save for a rainy day, or to simply catch (edited) on TBS, FX, or some other cable channel. 

Grade: 2/5

Recently Read

Dome Pondering Move Review: Say You Will (2017)

What is it about? A recent high school graduate cares for his mother while attempting to navigate his first relationship following his father's suicide.  Who is in it? Travis Tope - Sam Nimitz Katherine Hughes - Ellie Vaughn Favorite Scene: [spoiler alert] Sam plays his song for his mom. Favorite Quote: Ellie: "I wish we could have met down the road, maybe when we were like 27." Sam: "I think we needed each other now." Review:  Say You Will was an absolutely pleasant surprise of a watch from the Amazon Prime offerings.  I wasn't exactly sure what to expect with this one, but after the credits rolled, it was a movie that provided authentic characters and a great lesson on life. We don't always have to have everything figured out, and it's okay if you don't.  What makes Say You Will so beautiful is that all of the characters are carrying some inner struggle that connects them in the moment and time that helps them through whatever it is. The unlike...

Remembering Hulkamania

What a complicated mess this news leaves me in. Hulk Hogan. Dead. At 71. I was never a fan of Hogan (in the world of pro wrestling)…I was a Macho Man Randy Savage guy, and later on, a Bret Hart guy (and still am). But like every other wrestling fan from the ’80s through now, Hulk Hogan’s presence and legend are undeniable.  Terry Bolea transcended wrestling as Hulk Hogan and helped the art form take its first step into the mainstream of pop culture.  He later reinvented the business once again with the greatest heel turn ever at Bash at the Beach 1996. Many have changed the business once, but twice? Significantly?! Hogan’s run as Hulkamania and as Hollywood makes a case for the best to ever do it - I can't think of anyone on such a high level on both sides of the pro wrestling coin as a babyface and heel. Every pro wrestling Mount Rushmore (as dumb as these lists have become) includes Hulk Hogan, period. But Hogan is also so instrumental in my ever-evolving ability to separate...

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Hello, I Must Be Going (2012)

What is it about? A woman moves back in with her parents following a shocking divorce. An unlikely affair with a younger guy revives her life and perspective on marriage. Who is in it? Melanie Lynskey - Amy Christopher Abbott - Jeremy Blythe Danner - Ruth Favorite Scene: Amy's dad, who is often much easier on her than her mom, comes to her bedside and gives her some money. She refuses, then he insists. She then asks, "whose happiness are you buying?" Favorite Quote: Where the f** is 'bottom'? Where the motherf***ing f*** is motherf***ing 'bottom'? Review: Hello, I Must Be Going was an interesting watch. I've always found Melanie Lynskey to be an intriguing actor, and her role in this was just that.  What makes this film so interesting is that, going into the film, you believed this would be a film documenting Amy's journey from recent divorcee into...well, wherever it is she goes. The beauty of this film is that Amy's journey was just a public...