Film Review: In Theaters, “Bottoms” Is Top Dog
I am going to be severely restraining myself in this review. I was AMPED to see “Bottoms” since its announcement, even when it was merely a blank poster and plot description with Emma Seligman and Rachel Sennott’s names attached. I’m a massive fan of Seligman’s cult debut feature “Shiva Baby,” and “Rachel Sennott is the Funniest Woman Alive.” Since starring in “Shiva Baby,” she’s also stunned in “Bodies, Bodies, Bodies” and was one of the only redeeming qualities of “The Idol.” Seligman and Sennott were classmates at NYU and began writing the initial script for “Bottoms” back when they were producing “Shiva Baby” as Seligman’s thesis film. The two met Ayo Edibiri, who was also an undergrad at NYU at the time, and they determined she and Sennott would star. The film sat idle for years until the aftermath of “Shiva Baby’s” indie success and Sennott and Edibiri’s own career advancements (Edibiri is fantastic in and now Emmy-nominated for “The Bear” on FX) allowed them to get this absolutely batshit insane film off the ground.
The film follows PJ (Sennott) and Josie (Edibiri), two pathetic best friends who are determined to get laid before they leave for college — a plot seen many times before, but you have to trust me. A series of misunderstandings lead to a rumor that PJ and Josie ended up in juvie over the summer, and the two decide to exploit their new tough status to start a self-defense club for the female students at their school. Except that it’s not a self-defense club, it is a literal fight club designed to seduce the cheerleaders both harbour crushes on. From then on, as you can imagine, the plan blows up (literally. Don’t forget, this movie is “FIGHT CLUB”) in their faces.
Now, in order to continue, we have to be on the same page that “Fight Club” is the hottest film of all time, something I have been arguing with my friends about for years and which is understood by Seligman and Sennott. I will not be elaborating further; the film is called “Bottoms,” watch the trailer, you understand. If you don’t get it, this film is NOT FOR YOU. Other than the basic premise of a gay “Fight Club,” the film is a bit difficult to describe because it is a teen comedy in the tradition of “Heathers,” “Wet Hot American Summer” and “But I’m A Cheerleader.” It is also incredibly niche, bizarre and abrasive, making it hard to pitch to people who don’t intrinsically get it. I also DESPERATELY want everyone to see it unspoiled because every single joke landed for me and everyone in the packed indie theater I saw it in (I don’t think there was one straight person in my audience.) It is a hilarious and unbelievable film that deserves to be seen and loved by the degenerates it was made for.
As someone who was hated in high school for being both gay and a loser, this film speaks to me. It is intended for an incredibly specific audience, not just a broadly queer one, but a freak loser Gen Z queer one. It is apparent that Seligman and Sennott are on the cusp of millennial/Gen Z status, the jokes are incredibly dark and absurdist, and they do not shy away from the brainless sex on film discourse that’s been permeating Twitter (X? Who cares) this past year. “Bottoms” is incredibly smart and has better and more nuanced commentary on feminist theory than “Barbie” while ALSO being one of the horniest movies in recent memory, and in an authentically queer and bizarre way that I know resonates for too many of you! It’s very refreshing to see and a weirdly accurate representation of the majority of the queer people I know, considering the absurdity of the film’s narrative. It’s not for everyone, and it knows that. However, if you like blood, surrealist humor, gay-sex, David Fincher and women (the hot ones), this is THE FILM FOR YOU.
5/5 stars, zero notes, and I am not kidding.