“Bottoms” is the lesbian incel comedy we’ve all been waiting for.
Co-written by Rachel Sennott and Emma Seligman, and directed by Seligman, “Bottoms” comes out swinging hard and never lets up. It’s a hilarious sex comedy, a terrific queer high school movie, and a platform for some of the funniest and most talented actors in Hollywood right now.
The movie follows two queer teens – PJ (Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri) – who are so horny and unpopular that they will go to extreme lengths to get the cheerleaders to notice them, even if that means starting an all-girls fight club.
From there, it’s a no-holds-barred romp of bloody faces, violent fights, horny teens, semi-predatory lesbians, attempted murder, hookups, and high school hijinks.
If you think the premise sounds over-the-top, you’re right. “Bottoms” doesn’t let itself be held back by logic or storytelling conventions – if it would be funniest or sexiest for something to happen, it just does, no explanation needed.
The extreme level of suspension of disbelief you’ll need will probably make it so that some people don’t quite vibe with the movie, and some of the humor will also depend on your taste. But perhaps that will make it a stronger film as time goes by. The best and most forward-pushing comedies are often divisive when they first come out.
Sennott is brilliant as the trashy and selfish PJ. A lot of her lines seem so specifically her that you can’t imagine another actor saying them (and that makes sense, as she’s the one who wrote them). Edebiri (who many folks know from “The Bear,” “Abbott Elementary,” and “Theater Camp”) has been one of the breakout stars of the year, and she again is a superstar in this film. There’s nothing she can’t do.
The two stars are joined by Nicholas Galitzine (“Red, White & Royal Blue”) as the hilariously bone-headed football star Jeff, Ruby Cruz (“Willow”) as PJ and Josie’s beleaguered third wheel Hazel, and former NFL star Marshawn Lynch, who undoubtedly has some of the funniest lines in the film. Havana Rose Liu, Kaia Gerber, Punkie Johnson, and Summer Joy Campbell lead a backing ensemble that never stops being entertaining.
Honestly, though, the movie is worth it just to see young women covered in bruises and blood. There’s definitely a queer appeal to seeing attractive women punch each other in the face and being covered in bruises, black eyes, and bloody faces, and Seligman and Sennott have captured it perfectly. This is the queer gaze.
Emma Seligman’s first film, “Shiva Baby,” leaves a stronger emotional impression, but “Bottoms” gives her a chance to flex her comedy muscles, and those muscles are very strong (and very hot).
“Bottoms” is rated R and playing in select theaters.
This article originally appeared on Advocate.com, and is shared here as part of an LGBTQ+ community exchange between Q Voice News and Equal Pride.
