Review of Bad Words (2013) by Joan B — 12 Aug 2014

This movie is certainly not everyone's cup of tea to say the least. It's one of those movie ?s? that requires an element of relate ability to the main character. Guy Trilby, age 40 ? wonderfully? played by Jason Bateman ?,? is the king of all cynicists; the qui?n?t ?essential "hater" if you will. While most movies spend their time creating a likable, but unfortunate nice guy for the audience to fall in love with, this film does the complete opposite in a way.

?So often aspiring screen writers have been told to have their protagonist "save the cat" and usually in the opening scene, just to gain viewer approval but Guy Trilby instead symbolically steals candy from a baby and brags about it. I believe you need to have experienced a certain amount of bitterness in your life to appreciate the ride this movie takes you on. Despite acting like a straight up bastard,Guy actually has some endearing qualities. He's politically correct, savvy, assertive, tremendously witty, and has a striking sense of humor; in other words a very well functioning adult. He's that guy you probably wish you were, and that's why you love to hate him...at first.

Later on, through his interactions we see the truth in that Guy is a complex person trying to live past the hate, rejection and other unfair treatment life bestowed upon him. He chooses to do so, getting revenge by serving up a large dose of his detractor's own medicine : negativity.

At a certain point the viewer cannot help rooting and cheering for Guy as he strikes back so perfectly against the prejudice of society.

The character journey never really becomes a pity party. Sure you might feel some sympathy for Guy but it's quickly erased by his next evil deed, and you're right back to just being thoroughly entertained by his unprecedented antics. wondering what rule won't he break, and how far is he willing to go, and when/ how is it all going to come crashing down on him? or will his master plan be so well executed he finally get's the one thing he wants? It's those threads which keeps us enthralled during the movie.

This is a very interesting and unique character study. It is just really engaging watching the whole situation play out with Guy in the driver's seat. His relationships very much testing and defining his character, which turns out to be a pretty damn nice guy after all.

Call it dark humor, edgy drama in a semi sarcastic tone with a punk/ rebellious nature. In a nutshell it's crude, hilariously over the top, and controversial, but not just for the sake of being so, but rather with a purpose and a promise.

It's a premise that only works in fiction, where as the real life ramifications of this type of behavior would be unbearable, so in that respect it becomes a fantasy. Something you've only ever dreamed about doing: sticking it to "the man", it just so happens Guy's "man" was his dead beat dad.

There's a strong messages in there, mixed up in all the comedy, about friendship, bullying, and parenthood/ child development which I believe is delivered with impact.

For me the movie poses the idea that the world is a hell of a place, but oddly enough really good things do come out of it and that you have to be willing to ride through all the BS to get there and that there is always somebody ( no matter how strange they may seem) willing to have your back when it seems like the entire world hates you. For me, that is an enjoyable and honest sentiment.