Hilarious buddy comedy Bottoms is completely unafraid to cross a line, which is why it works so well.
Bottoms is along the lines of teenage buddy comedies like Super Bad, American Pie, and Bring It On, but it pushes things to the extreme. It is completely unafraid to not only dive into what the lesbian High School experience is like, while throwing in pure ridiculousness and insanity — especially in the third act. Things go further than you could ever imagine, but trust us, that’s a good thing.
Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Bottoms would not exist without the labor of the writers and actors in both unions.
Bottoms follows friends PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri) as they put together a women’s self defense club at their school. The problem is, this is all part of their plan to lose their virginity to hot cheerleaders. Even though the plan works, they quickly realize they are in over their heads and not only risk the club learning their true intentions, but of losing new friendships as well.
This is one of those movies that has moments that will make your jaw drop. Nearly every single joke hits, which is largely in part due to the incredible writers and the talented actors. While there are one or two that aren’t laugh out loud funny, there are a lot that are.
Bottoms is the perfect movie to go to with a group of friends, because you will all connect with it in different ways and have an absolute blast just laughing and enjoying each other’s company. There are many quotes that will be brought up time and time again, and you will all giggle when you remember them.
It does a great job of highlighting the school experience for teenagers, but in particular for lesbians, as the two main characters are both gay. Straight people will be able to relate to them as well, so don’t think this is an alienating movie at all — it isn’t.
Nicholas Galitzine proves the insane range that he has. To go from playing someone as suave and collected as Prince Henry in Red, White & Royal Blue to Jeff, who is a moron football player, is quite impressive. The same can be said for Ayo Edebiri who recently voiced April O’Neil in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and plays Sydney in The Bear — all three being completely different.
Marshawn Lynch portrays Mr. G in Bottoms and trust us, he steals every scene he is in. His role might be a supporting one, but he brings something incredibly special (and hilarious) to the table.
These three aren’t the only standouts, however. The entire ensemble cast is a large part of why this movie works as well as it does. They all play off each other perfectly. Each of them has a different personality, and a different role to play in the club, coming together in the end for a moment that will have viewers clapping, laughing, and cheering. It is pure insanity, in the best way possible.
That scene, however, would not have worked if the audience didn’t feel connected to each of these girls throughout the movie. If we didn’t fully believe each of their intentions and truths, and understand who they are, that moment would have seemed fake and too far off the deep end. Luckily, it all works in a way that will have viewers talking about it for weeks.
There are moments where Bottoms feels a bit generic, especially when you think about teen movies that have come before it, however it always wriggles its way out of that with a shocking twist, turn, or change-up from what viewers will be expecting to happen. The plot itself it a bit predictable, and sure, things will end up more or less where you expect them too — but we promise you there are many jaw dropping moments that feel unique and worthy of your time.
Overall Thoughts
Bottoms is absolutely hilarious. It fully dives into the teenage experience and pushes the envelope whenever possible. From raunchy jokes, to pure insanity, this movie is unforgettable. Even through the predictability, it is fun.
This movie is something that needs to be experienced in a packed theater with your friends, so you can fully unleash just as the movie does. By the end of it, chances are your cheeks will hurt from laughing. Line after line will leave an impression.
Bottoms isn’t meant to teach viewers important life lessons or cause you to walk away feeling like you learned the meaning of life. It is here for pure entertainment, which is exactly what you will get.
Hilarious, raunchy, and unique, Bottoms is one of the best comedies of the year. The cast gives this thing their all, which shows, but major props to the writers as well because nearly every joke lands — and that is hard to do with something like this.
Rating: 4 out of 5
NEXT: Red, White & Royal Blue Review: Absolutely Charming
About Bottoms
Bottoms, a refreshingly unique raunchy comedy, focuses on two girls, PJ and Josie, who start a fight club as a way to lose their virginities to cheerleaders. Their bizarre plan works. The fight club gains traction and soon the most popular girls in school are beating each other up in the name of self-defense. But PJ and Josie find themselves in over their heads and in need of a way out before their plan is exposed.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.