Bottoms

Now here's a high school, that you'd love to go to, as anything goes - nothing's taboo, where two single girls, who aren't looking for pearls, start a club to find love, that gets quite misconstrued. There is punching and kicking, a shove with a push, the dialogues quite racy and might make you blush (if you're of a certain age and demographic), a battle of sexes, as pairs become exes, the romance is there, but it just isn't mush. Growing up can be tough if you're different from others, once being a woman kept you under the covers, now the rules of engagement, don't lead to enragement, and a progressive world - just will not be smothered.

When 'Bottoms' started I thought to myself, okay this is 'Superbad' but with women. And it kind of was for a time. Then it somehow became 'Fight Club' with women, and finished up as a film I had never seen before. This was a journey.

The film is done in quite a bizarre way. It's set in the present but everyone dresses like the 70s and there are no smart phones. Also there are almost no adults in the film and the few that there are are absolute monsters. If there's a school assembly the students are just running it, for example. You get used to it after a while but I can't remember another film like it in that sense.

The film is at its best when it is just trying to be wacky and funny. There's a period in the middle where some conflict arrises and the film gets bogged down briefly. Which is a shame because when the film is trying to be funny it is genuinely funny. There is some great dialogue in this film. I had a good time. 8/10.

As "Bottoms" (2023 release; 92 min.) opens, we are introduced to BFFs PJ (who has a crush on cheerleader Brittany) and Josie (who has a crush on cheerleader Isabel). After a "back to school" event, PJ and Josie decide to start a self-defense club, and Brittany and Isabel are among the girls joining the club...

Couple of comments: this is the second feature-length of writer-director Emma Seligman ("Shiva Baby"). Seligman co-wrote the script with Rachel Sennott who plays PJ. Elizabeth Banks is one of the movie's producers. The plot as it is is purposefully over the top and frankly meaningless. It just creates the excuse, as if one is needed, for zippy dialogue and satire of just about everything. I knew all of this beforehand. What I expected was a bunch of funny situations peppered with zany jokes. What I actually experience was something quite different. A smile here and there, but I couldn't really get into it, sorry. I fully realize that as a straight male I am not the intended target audience but bottom line is that funny is funny, no matter what, and this wasn't really it. This is of course a very subjective take but I can only convey what I experienced.

"Bottoms" premiered at the SXSW Festival in March, and was rolled out nationwide in theaters this Labor Day weekend. The Friday early evening screening where I saw this at my local arthouse theater here in Cincinnati was attended okay (about 10 people). For what it's worth, "Bottoms" is currently rated 95% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. If you are in the mood for a rowdy HS comedy, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

I really can't score this movie any lower than a nine. Not only was it my style of humor, it was able to stay entertaining all the way to the end. No third act deflation! And on top of being funny for the entire runtime, I enjoyed the story. I actually thought it had a plot that drew me in and gave me a highly satisfying resolution. I appreciated the fact that there were so many ridiculous details that it was almost like this movie was set in an alternate universe. For me, it kept the balance exactly right. Wild, but with some grounded elements to keep me caring about the characters. I think this could become one of my favorite comedies of all time. I don't know how many other people I would show it to, because I think the humor was extremely subjective, but I treasured it.

Let me start off by saying that I absolutely love this movie. I really adore all of the characters because they don't feel forced. Most of the time when I see Gen Z being portrayed on TV it is physically painful to watch, but with this writing it was so unserious and fun that I actually caught myself laughing multiple times. The humor is definitely not for everyone but it was exactly my cup of tea so it was absolutely delightful to watch. And seeing loser lesbians as main characters is something straight out of my dreams... This is going to become a classic in my house and a nostalgic pick when i want to get reminded of my youth!

I really recommend it!

(Ruby Cruz absolutely stole my heart as Hazel and this movie made me a fan of hers lmao)