Jason Bateman is widely known for his passive, victimized character in “Arrested Development,” but in his new film “Bad Words” the audience is introduced to another side of him.
This is the first film Bateman has starred in and directed, and his co-star, Kathryn Hahn, said “It will not be his last.”
“Bad Words” is a film about Guy Trilby (Jason Bateman), a man in his forties who had a rough upbringing and he finagles his way into the Golden Quill Spelling Bee to exact revenge.
Intrigued by his story, Jenny Widgeon (Kathryn Hahn), is a reporter and subtle love interest, who follows him on his journey to get the inside scoop.
Trilby’s character is a genius with emotional issues who expresses himself by using foul language and inappropriate slurs to children and parents he comes into contact with. While this sounds like a poor-humored plot, it is actually the opposite and Bateman executes it flawlessly.
Trilby develops a friendship with nine-year-old Chaitanya Chopra (Rohan Chand), a sheltered boy who spends all of his time studying words. Chopra is a fan favorite who maintains his charisma as Trilby slowly corrupts him over the course of the film.
At a press junket following a screening, supporting actress Hahn praised Bateman’s ability to keep the film set strong and the cast working hard.
Hahn said Bateman gained much respect on the first day of shooting. There was a scene that required high energy and a lengthy monologue riddled with curse words.
She said Bateman’s performance blew the cast and crew out of the water, which set the tone for the rest of the shooting of the film.
Hahn is known for her exceptionally hilarious supporting rolls in a number of Blockbuster comedies, such as “We’re the Millers” and “Step Brothers.” She said forming a connection with Bateman came easily.
In “Bad Words”, Hahn plays a hard headed yet charming journalist who knows exactly what she wants. Throughout the film, she helps reinforce Trilby’s harsh personality as she fights with and against him until the very end.
Hahn said growing up with humorous brothers helped her develop the chemistry between her character and Bateman.
“It was a matter of survival at my house,” Hahn said, “you had to keep up or you would be slaughtered.”
She loved the comedic personality of the film and the darkness within the humor, she said “[dark humor is] deeply funny because [it’s] something true.”
Screenwriter Andrew Dodge, who has been working in the industry for 15 years, said “Bad Words” is his first feature film. At the press junket he said he wanted to write something strong to express the “[inner] monster people feel they want to let out at some point in their life.”
Dodge did not want to write a “dumb comedy” with standard slapstick humor, but instead he pushed the limits by using a dark humor that people can really relate to.
Dodge said bad words are just another form of expression, which is what he wanted the “core theme of the film to be about.”
He said he did not want to push the limits too far, but Bateman played devil’s advocate and continued to ask, “how can we take it further?”
While talking about the inspiration behind the film, Dodge mentioned a National No Foul Language Day at his children’s school.
Ironically on this day, instead of not using bad words, Dodge told his kids they could pick one curse word of their choice and use it only on that day, in context. This unique observance led to influence aspects of the film that make a statement about our cultural use of bad words.
“I needed to figure out what my voice would be [in the story],” Dodge said. He also said he was able to relate to Trilby’s character.
As a big John Hues fan, Dodge said he wanted to “create a subversive heart” within Trilby. Even though Trilby’s outrageous behavior is extremely inappropriate, Dodge’s skillful screenwriting tempts the audience to root for his character and fall in love with this oddly heart-warming story.
The film will be released in select theaters in New York and Los Angeles on March 14, and nationwide between March 21 and 28.
The collaboration between Bateman and Dodge, along with remarkable casting, will surprise audiences with a bold and hilarious statement.