Lesbian teen-drama,“Bottoms,” is the raunchy coming-of-age comedy needed after years worth of missing representation.
The film reunites “Shiva Baby” director Emma Seligman and leading actress Rachel Sennott.
Seligman and Sennott establish a world that is queer-coded, but also authentic to the gay high school experience many people encounter.
“Bottoms” follows unpopular lesbian best friends PJ (Sennot) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri) as they inadvertently start a fight club disguised as a self-defense club.
Aesthetically, the film is more than pleasing. The set design and colorful styles match the dramatics of the film’s tone.
Walking in, I wasn’t sure how far the film would go in terms of violence. The movie stays true to its brutal plot. As soon as the self-defense club kicks off, the violence is cranked all the way up and doesn’t stop.
These women are unforgivably broody and angry. There’s no “make-over” montage or five-minute monologue followed by tears.
Sennot and Edebiri pair well as the leads. However, Nicholas Galitzine feels like the backbone of the film, stealing almost every scene.
As somebody who only knows Galitizine from “Red, White, and Royal Blue,” it was a pleasant surprise to see her play almost the complete opposite as Jeff. He’s childish, horrible, and completely out of touch.
At the heart of “Bottoms” is the underlying theme of real violence against women. This is briefly touched upon, but feels genuine.
By the end, each female lead has been through the wringer, making the gory final act necessary.
The movie also takes time to relate to its audience with the disappointment PJ faces when she realizes her crush is straight.
This is a plot point that could have gone south very quickly, but Seligman crafts the scene in a way that’s neither exploitative or inappropriate. It feels real and relatable.
The film succeeds in telling an outrageous, queer and violent story that remains balanced without slipping into parody territory.
What could have easily been a forgettable teen flick plays out like a cult classic.
