“Bottoms” Review
(From Left) Rachel Sennott, Havana Rose Liu and Kyo Edebiri star in “Bottoms,” one of the summer’s funniest films and the perfect back-to-school film for high schoolers, he wrote unironically.
Steven Spielberg once said that “if a person can tell me the idea in 25 words or less, it’s going to make a pretty good movie.” Okay, here goes. Lesbians in high school start a fight club to beat up football players and hook up with cheerleaders. In just 18 words, I have described “Bottoms” which is on track to be not only the funniest film of the year but also one of the best as well. With an amazing cast, gifted direction and a fierce sense of humor that just won’t quit, this is the best film to prove that summer comedies are back and are here to stay.
As previously stated, the film follows PJ and Josie (Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri), two lesbian high school seniors who are sick of being unpopular and seeing jocks get the girls of their dreams. So, to get laid, they start up a self-defense club with many of the girls joining in hopes of learning how to defend themselves and earnestly seeking women empowerment. When the club is met with strong resistance from the jocks, this fight club must band together and beat the shit out of some dumbass football players.
What had me so excited for this film was that writer/director Emma Seligman was going to be making this film after their hit directorial debut “Shiva Baby.” Along with returning collaborator Rachel Sennott (the star of “Shiva Baby” and the cowriter of “Bottoms”) and Ayo Edebiri (who previously partnered with Sennott on a Comedy Central digital series), this film seemed like it was going to make a huge splash with both the indie cinema crowd and mainstream audiences who have come to love Sennott and Edebiri in films and shows like “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” and “The Bear.” However, even I couldn’t anticipate just how damn good this film was.
After making “Shiva Baby,” a contained, stress-fueled comedy, for $200,000, Seligman has outdone themself with a $11.5 million insane, action-packed laugh-riot that is a completely different than their first film while still having an audacious sense of humor. While Seligman and Sennott’s script is fresh and incredibly written, there’s still this natural feeling of improvisation that is present in many of the great comedy films. Watching “Bottoms” felt like watching the most incredible, organic session of improv where you have no idea what’s going to happen next but you’re laughing so hard that you don’t care.
As the film’s leads, Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri offset each other perfectly and have fantastic chemistry, probably aided by the fact that they’re friends in real life. PJ is far more adventurous and intense while Josie wants to go with the flow and not ruffle any feathers. Together, they’re the perfect comedic duo like Abbott and Costello. Except they’re not men. Or over 40. And both of them are physically fit. And they’re both the same height. What I’m saying is that they work well together.
Also rounding out the cast are an incredible bunch of “teenagers” including Ruby Cruz as the shy yet well-meaning Hazel, Summer Joy Campbell as the psychotic Sylvie and Havana Rose Liu and Kaia Gerber as Isabel and Brittany: the objects of Josie and PJ’s affection. Along with Nicholas Galitzine as the delightfully dumb quarterback Jeff and Super Bowl champison Marshawn Lynch as the fight club’s faculty advisor Mr. G, there’s not one weak link in this cast. Even SNL star Punkie Johnson has a small role and makes the most of it with a side-splitting scene.
“Bottoms’” humor is truly excellent in how random, insane and shocking it is. With many naysayers saying that people don’t want to make comedies because they’ll offend someone, “Bottoms” says “fuck you” to that with a punch to the face and a kick to the groin. The film was so funny that I feel the strong need to see it again in theaters. Not only because I want to relive the experience of seeing the film with a sold-out audience (which was amazing in its own right) but because we were laughing so hard that I missed some of the jokes. Those with weak constitutions and breathing difficulties might not want to see the film without the proper medication.
The film’s verbal humor is definitely on-point but the physical humor is where it truly excels. This is some of the funniest slap-stick that I’ve seen in a long time and I hesitate to even call it slap-stick because that’s more commonly associated with well-timed animation like “Tom and Jerry” and “Looney Tunes” and “Bottoms” feels all too real. Just like those cartoons, every hit feels painful and you react to it with half of your body wanting to wince and the other half wanting to laugh without falling out of the chair. The stunt coordination and performance just goes to show that stunts deserve a category at the Academy Awards because these fights are giving “John Wick: Chapter 4” a run for its money. I know what I said. It’s especially important because the action-filled, bloody climax is where the film goes from good to great.
There’s also a strong feeling of satire present throughout the film. I think it’s clear from the beginning that “Bottoms” is not going for realism like “Dazed and Confused” or “Lady Bird.” This high school doesn’t feel real and that’s the point. It’s an engaging farce of high school with students and especially teachers who act in ways that would be unimaginable in today’s world. The best way to describe this campy environment is imagine “Saved by the Bell” if all the girls on that show had enough of Zack Morris’ bullshit and decided to beat the hell out of him.
But behind all the punches and make-outs and a “Lord of the Rings” reference so subtle and so hilarious that I’m sure I was the only one in my theater who noticed, there’s a strong sense of heart. The message of women empowerment and coming out of your comfort zone to make new friends and find someone you love is so strong. You really want PJ and Josie to live their best lives as they deal with this insane world. Honestly, the themes and campy execution of them in “Bottoms” might make this a better film to watch with “Barbie” than “Oppenheimer” if that’s possible.
If there’s anyone to pay attention to in the world of film, it’s anyone who was associated with “Bottoms.” This is the kind of film that reminds us why comedy is so important because it can not only entertain, it can deliver us from the most painful of times. I have a feeling that “Bottoms” will not only make you laugh, but it will lift your spirits to a place that you didn’t think was possible.
