Bad Words

Watching Jason Bateman, as surly and deadpan as ever, take down innocent kids at spelling bees is darkly, sadistically funny. His accidental bonding with a sheltered, but emotionally neglected child competitor (Rohan Chand, perfect as the Indian nerd) ups the emotional ante while still mining plenty of laughs. As funny as it is to watch Bateman destroy these gullible kids, one wonders, even at the beginning: What is his endgame? That’s the weak point of the script when it’s finally revealed. So the ending feels a little rushed, and the wicked tone is lost, temporarily. But Kudos to Bateman for sticking to his ridiculous premise and shining a spotlight on a really funny kid.