Movie Breakdown: Bottoms
Pre-Screening Stance:
Bottoms stars Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri, and it’s from writer/director Emma Seligman (Shiva Baby). That’s a more than worthwhile mix, if you ask me.
Post-Screening Ramble:
I can confidently say that Bottoms is one of my favorite films of 2023. The basic plot has a familiar ring to it – high schoolers trying hard to get laid – but it exists inside of something so over the top and clever that the movie is ultimately just an entirely different beast. At the center of the story here is PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri), two BFFs with zero game who would really like for their senior year to be filled with sexual escapades. After a miscommunication with their classmate Hazel (Ruby Cruz) and a mishap with the football team’s star QB Jeff (Nicholas Galitzine), the duo come to the natural conclusion that the easiest path to the ladies they’ve been crushing on is to start a female fight club/self-defense group. Punching and kicking and feelings ensue.
For all intents and purposes, Bottoms is a parody of pretty much every teen/high school movie ever. So, in other words, it features a slew of wacky things, like wildly inappropriate PA announcements, a mascot with an enormous penis, and goofy football players who – no matter the circumstance – are only ever in full uniform (pads and all). Honestly, I don’t think there’s another movie from the last couple of years that’s made me crack up the way this one did, and I imagine all of the jokes and bits will be what you and your friends first chat about once the credits hit the screen. What really makes Bottoms great though is that there’s a lot more to it than laughs – it’s also a smart and subversive film. Plus, it packs a super positive message, which makes it a film that’s just as easy to cheer on as it is to giggle through.
You should absolutely see Bottoms. The film is theaters as of today, August 25.
One Last Thought:
I know Marshawn Lynch is just Marshawn Lynch whenever he pops up in anything, but he legit elevates this film with a very funny and likeable turn as an equally in-tune and aloof teacher.
One More Last Thought:
Kaia Gerber looks just liker her mother (Cindy Crawford).
