6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A spelling bee loser sets out to exact revenge by finding a loophole and attempting to win as an adult.
Starring: Jason Bateman, Kathryn Hahn, Rohan Chand, Philip Baker Hall, Allison JanneyComedy | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
BD-Live
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Little House on the Prairie. Not the first thing that pops to mind when discussing the career of Jason Bateman, but the very series that, in 1981, introduced the then young, wide-eyed Bateman to Hollywood; a year before his older sister Justine -- who was, for quite some time, the more famous of the two -- earned small screen stardom with Family Ties. Fast forward almost thirty-five years. Past Silver Spoons and The Hogan Family. Past Teen Wolf Too and a trio of flops in the '90s. Past a number of stints behind the camera, directing episodes of the television series of which he was a part. Past Arrested Development (may its name be praised). Past an impressive albeit hit or miss array of fan favorite comedies and affecting, award-winning dramedies, among them Dodgeball, Juno, Up in the Air and Horrible Bosses. Past each film, television show and cameo... all the way to Bad Words: the directorial debut of an older, wiser and most definitely saltier Jason Bateman.
The occasionally daring, unapologetically offensive Bad Words couldn't be farther removed from Little House on the Prairie, or, more critically, share more in common with other bad-boy dark comedies forged from the same R-rated fire. Yet despite the film's more familiar bits and pieces, a dangerously unlikable lead character, and the trappings of an at-times too-neatly contrived script, there are plenty of laughs to be had, enough surprises to keep things fresh, and the promising tempering of an unmistakably competent and capable feature film director; one who will hopefully continue to hone his craft and deliver more sucker-punch comedies in the years to come.
"Can you give these to your mother? She left those in my room last night. She was very sweet..."
Bad Words boasts a crisp, clean 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation that holds true to Bateman and DP Ken Seng's unassuming photography and modest, post-indie intentions. The film's bookish palette isn't exactly brimming with bright splashes of color, yet skintones are natural and lifelike, primaries exhibit confidence, black levels are satisfying (though occasionally muted) and delineation is excellent. Scenes in which the Golden Quill tournament is being broadcast are much more colorful, to the point of being garish, over-saturated and prone to crush, but it's all in keeping with Bateman's aesthetic.) Detail is terrific too, with well-defined edges free of ringing and aliasing, refined textures unhindered by noise or other anomalies, and revealing close-ups. All told, Universal's encode delivers.
Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is quite good as well, although not as remarkable as the film's video presentation. Bad Words is largely a dialogue-driven comedy, without much in the way of sonic aggression. There are semi-frequent outbursts, eruptions of music and troublemaker montages, each more enveloping than the last, but otherwise it's all rather restrained. Still, voices are intelligible and perfectly prioritized at all times, LFE output is able-bodied and assertive, rear speaker activity is suitably mischievous and the soundfield is reasonably immersive. Add to that accurate directionality, smooth pans and decidedly decent dynamics. Bad Words' lossless track stands its ground.
Bateman's characters can be as off-putting as his comedies, and Guy Trilby and Bad Words are more divisive than most. Even so, the film is built around an effective mystery that works incredibly well, affording Bateman the opportunity to make Guy as bad as he likes without losing his audience before turning it all around. Guy may be the worst of the worst but, by film's end, he resembles something... human, perhaps even someone worth rooting for, or at least worthy enough for 90-minutes of laughs. Universal's Blu-ray release doesn't disappoint either, thanks to an excellent video presentation, solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track and small but decent selection of extras.
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Extended Cut
2014
Totally Inappropriate Edition
2011
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1983
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