Bottoms - Review: This Raunchy, Violent, Queer High School Comedy Comes Out On Top

 

High School can seem like one of the most bizarre places on the planet, as if everyone is operating in some weird, disconnected version of their own reality. It can seem doubly bizarre if you also happen to be queer, and “Bottoms”, the sophomore feature from Emma Seligman (“Shiva Baby”) aims to capture that bizarre, uncanny-ness and sprinkle some violence in as well.

The film follows best friends PJ and Josie, played by Rachell Sennott (“Bodies, Bodies, Bodies,” “Shiva Baby”) and Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear,” “Theatre Camp”) respectively, as they start a women’s self-defense club after school with their friend Hazel, played by Ruby Cruz (“Mare of Easttown,” “Willow (2022)”), in an attempt to hook up with their crushes Isabel and Brittany, played by Havana Rose Liu (“No Exit (2022),” “The Sky is Everywhere”) and Kaia Gerber (“American Horror Story: Double Feature”) respectively, all while avoiding the ire of the football team lead by Jeff, played by Nicholas Galitzine (“Red, White, and Royal Blue,” “Cinderella (2021)”), and his right hand man Tim, played by Miles Fowler (“Winning Time”).

With a talented and entirely committed cast, “Bottoms” excels in its goal of pure absurdity. Sennott, who co-wrote the film with Seligman, and Edebiri are a perfect pair, bouncing off each other with comedic glee. The scenes featuring the pair have an electric jolt of craziness that makes them seem like the kind of gee-whiz trainwreck kind of humor one can only conceive of when working with their best friend. The pair also nails the handful of somber moments, playing them up to their most heightened states.

Cruz, meanwhile, absolutely steals the show as the sweeter third wheel to PJ and Josie’s friendship. Her ability to maintain an empathetic point of view without abandoning the movie’s complete absurdity is a secret weapon. The entire cast is so dialed in to the kind of heightened perspective the film is working with that at no point does it ever feel like it’s not of its own reality, even when it seems so disconnected from our own.

What’s really impressive is how the film’s silliness is baked into every aspect. It’s not just in the performances or dialogue. The camerawork is taking everything exceptionally seriously, handled by cinematographer Maria Rusche (“Shiva Baby,” “Dating & New York”), and even the musical choices are working on an absurd level, including a note perfect needle drop of “Complicated” by Avril Lavigne.

If there’s anything to make note of, it’s that “Bottoms” is not a film that will ease you into its world or perspective. This is absolutely one of those movies where, if the first five or so minutes aren’t for you, you should just abandon hope. Because while what’s here is fantastic, it exists on a wavelength all its own.

It makes this a truly special little film. While its easy to make comparisons to other queer cult classics like “But I’m a Cheerleader” or high school satires like “Not Another Teen Movie,” “Bottoms” is a breath of fresh, crazed, violent air that seeks to laugh at itself and everyone else the entire way through. Lead by a pair of perfect performances into a blood soaked, horny, heightened reality, it’s a truly wild ride that hits you like a kiss with a fist. 4.5/5