Bottoms (2023) is about a ‘fight club’ started by PJ and Josie, two “ugly, untalented gays” desperate to find girlfriends. one can either hate it or absolutely love it; we doubt there can be an ‘average’ review for the movie because it is anything but that. Directed by Emma Seligman, and co-written with Rachel Sennott, the movie is devoid of the objectifying male gaze which we feel so thankful for. It is bold and unique and feels so refreshing after watching countless movies centring around male incels.
Bottoms is genre-defying. The movie takes the trope of loser high-schoolers who just want a girlfriend before they graduate (similar to Super Bad (2007)), and queers it up! The movie was iconic enough to be essentially screened over clips shared in tweets by excited gays. The two women are shameless about their desire, a trait not commonly shown in lesbian/sapphic media, where this desire is more or less either catered to men, or is subtle & discreet. Their attraction is not pure or innocent, it is wild, irresponsible and also hilarious. Who doesn’t want to see a queer woman set up a bomb? That too under a man’s car? Sign us up.
A blooper reel in the end credits has always been one of our favourite bits as it only adds to the joy of watching comedies. It is one of those things you thought would never make a comeback and when it does, it feels almost nostalgic. The soundtrack and the white background poster remind us of the 2000s movies aesthetic in the best way possible, reviving teen sex comedy but made gay. Bottoms has everything one could ask for; it’s the perfect blend of comedy and a social commentary on feminism. Despite whatever opinion you might have about the movie, it leaves an impression on the viewer because of all its unconventional elements which are exactly what made the movie an instant favourite for us.
The theme of community is central to the plot, and we love it. Their Fight Club, where they all assemble in a hall to kick, punch, hit and dive at each other, becomes an empowering space for the school’s women and queers. We also loved when Josie goes to her “Gay Yoda”, an older black lesbian, to seek advice when her and PJ fight. The soundtrack of the movie enhances our experience so much more. Our absolute favourite scene though, was the final fight-off between the Fight Club and the enemy team, who planted pineapple juice against the home team. It is a bloodbath: exaggerated, bizarre and amusing violence, only made more funny by how quickly everyone ignores the deaths, and followed up by one of the sweetest kiss scenes we’ve ever seen. Lesbians and bisexuals save the day, yet again!
(A review by Mads and Diya)
Tabeer 