By Julz Levesque, Contributor
A blockbuster raunchy comedy is something we all need to get us into the theater at times. It’s an experience to share with friends and it can be a breath of fresh air from high-brow dramas or intricate and drawn-out plots seen within the ever so present Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sometimes it’s good to have a laugh in a packed theater: it brings you closer to other movie-goers, lightens your mood, and gets your dopamine pumping. Who wouldn’t want that? The list of memorable teen/young adult screwball and raunchy films is significantly growing, from older films like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, American Pie, and Superbad to more recent films like Booksmart and No Hard Feelings. Bottoms definitely fits into this category, and if you enjoy any of the films I’ve listed, I’d say it’s definitely worth the watch.
From Shiva Baby director Emma Seligman comes a film that has been described as a “lesbian fight club”; Bottoms has something for everyone, and most definitely references David Fincher’s beloved classic throughout the film. It’s hilariously witty and satirical, showcases a hot and insanely brilliant female cast, has loveable and extremely hateable characters, features sexy steamy scenes, and if you’re like me and enjoy bomb jokes…you’re in for a treat. The film is brought to you by the same producers who worked on Pitch Perfect and Cocaine Bear, and if all of that’s not enough to persuade you into seeing this film then perhaps my short synopsis will.
Set in high school, Ayo Edibiri and Rachel Sennott lead as the two main besties, Josie and PJ, who are coined as the “ugly, untalented, gays”. If these names ring a bell I’m delighted to tell you that Ayo Edibiri stars as Sydney from Hulu Original The Bear and also stars in other projects like Theater Camp and the latest animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Rachel Sennott (everyone’s it girl) is a familiar face seen in various films such as Bodies Bodies Bodies, Shiva Baby, of course, and unfortunately for her, she was also in The Idol. The two embark on a mission to start a fight club in order to provide a safe space to learn “self-defense”; however, their main focus is to use this opportunity to meet other fine ladies to essentially lose their virginity…as one does. Josie and PJ have their hearts set on the two popular cheerleaders Isabel and Brittany (played by Havana Rose Liu and Kaia Gerber) and will do anything to “kiss them on the mouths”. A preexisting dilemma gets in the way of their plan: Isabel is already confusingly smitten with her oafish football-playing boyfriend Jeff (Nicolas Galitzine), who wrecks havoc by essentially being a glorified man-child quarterback. Early in the film Jeff threatens Josie and PJ in a brief interaction becoming the main perpetrator that inspired the self-defense club in the first place.
I can only describe this movie as a cross between But I’m a Cheerleader and Superbad. It explores friendship, sexuality, toxic masculinity, and the patriarchy in a satirical, unapologizing way that I feel speaks to younger generations. Bottoms hilariously picks on stereotypes and tropes seen within the genre of high school drama/comedy that adds to the overall effectiveness of the film. I genuinely feel this film has something for everyone, and even if it’s not your particular cup of joe, I feel it’s still wildly entertaining and full of slapstick one-liners. Bottoms is currently playing at the Nickelodeon in Portland, and if the theater isn’t your thing, you’re in luck, as it’s now out to rent on streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, Youtube, and Apple TV.
