I went in thinking it starred Cliff Curtis because that’s who appeared on one of the promotional images. Turns out, it’s Jason Bateman's film and his directorial debut. It’s a nice change to see a movie centered around a spelling bee contest—not many films explore that subject—but the story felt poorly told. A lot of the storytelling seemed weak and uninspired. The intention was for an engaging narrative with a quick tempo, it seems. Movies usually have some kind of underlying reason or explanation for what's happening, like taking a plain piece of wood and shaping it into something appealing. Some films hold back on revealing that purpose until the very end, creating a surprise, while others don’t hesitate to explain things as they go along. The twist in this movie was flat, unoriginal, and felt like something out of an old film. The kid from 'Jack and Jill' wasn't bad. I did feel some parts were unsuitable given that one of the main actors is a child. But the title makes it clear it’s intended for adults only. I get that the writer was trying to do something new, but they didn't quite pull it off; it could have used some more interesting or uplifting elements. What struck me as odd was that this film seemed neither made for commercial success nor a serious artistic endeavor. Throughout the movie, I had a feeling that something wasn’t adding up, and then I realized the decision to portray the main character negatively was connected to something. They wanted viewers to dislike him, and they succeeded in that regard. It's also interesting to note that the script originated from 'The Black List' and remained untouched for nearly ten years. Sadly, Bateman decided to take it on, and the outcome is... I’m not completely satisfied, but it’s an okay movie at least because it attempts something different. 6/10

Source on TMDB