391: Bottoms

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[00:00:30] 99. Let's get to Bottoms, which came out in I think mid-2023 and it's currently on Amazon Prime to stream.

[00:00:40] It's directed by Emma Seligman, stars Rachel Sinnott, also co-written by her, Ayo Edabiri, Ruby Cruz, Havana Rose Liu, and a few others.

[00:00:55] And the synopsis is, two unpopular queer high school students start a fight club to have sex before graduation.

[00:01:03] So I had heard about this one when it came out, didn't really think much on it.

[00:01:09] I was like alright I'll get around to it, but I heard it was actually surprisingly good.

[00:01:13] It was like one of the better comedies of last year.

[00:01:16] And I also knew that it had sort of a twist on Fight Club so I was curious about that.

[00:01:20] And finally got around to seeing it just recently and I think I'm pretty much with the majority.

[00:01:27] I thought it was very solid.

[00:01:29] I don't think it's a masterpiece, it wouldn't have been top five of the year.

[00:01:33] But I think in terms of straight comedies, pun there, I really thought it was genuinely funny.

[00:01:42] Rachel Sinnott, if I'm saying that name right, she's hysterical in this.

[00:01:46] I haven't seen the other movie she was in by the same director, Shiva Baby, which I'm now very curious to see.

[00:01:52] But she is so funny in this, like her delivery and the writing is very sharp.

[00:01:56] And the other actress, Ayo Edabiri, I've seen her in I think a couple other things.

[00:02:01] I liked her overall, I don't think she has as many good jokes as Rachel Sinnott.

[00:02:07] But they're both very good together, very good chemistry.

[00:02:11] And it did remind me a lot of Heathers in terms of the plot.

[00:02:14] I won't spoil too much but there's this whole thing of a threat to the school and violence in the past history.

[00:02:21] And people sort of going off the edge, which I don't love Heathers either, kind of for the same reasons.

[00:02:28] The plot becomes so ridiculous by the end.

[00:02:31] This movie is in a really weird reality.

[00:02:34] In terms of the extreme nature of this rivalry between these two high schools, the violence, threats, all that stuff seems a little...

[00:02:43] At times it was so serious or so straightforward with how it was presenting that, that it sort of lost me.

[00:02:51] It was like alright, it seems a little too ridiculous.

[00:02:53] But then it would sort of get back into a very over-the-top, cartoony reality.

[00:03:01] I think overall it still worked.

[00:03:03] There were just a few moments where it took me out of it.

[00:03:06] But not a huge deal because it's still very creative.

[00:03:08] I think that the Fight Club concept and these two lesbian girls trying to get laid before they go to college and all that.

[00:03:19] I think all those dynamics are very good.

[00:03:21] The teacher who they hire as their advisor for the club is fantastic in it.

[00:03:28] I think it's very refreshingly modern.

[00:03:31] I think the perspectives that it has on high schoolers and certain personas or stigmas that maybe because of how they dress or their sexuality or whatever, certain stereotypes.

[00:03:44] I think how people present different aspects to that is very interesting and new that I haven't really seen in most high school comedies in quite some time.

[00:03:55] So I really appreciated that.

[00:03:57] And that's something that even I connected with now being like 30.

[00:04:01] So very good movie.

[00:04:03] Probably the writing is the best part which these days it's pretty rare to get a comedy that has great writing.

[00:04:09] It's almost always relying on really over-the-top performances or whatever else it may be besides writing.

[00:04:17] So that's why so many nowadays are kind of lazy I think.

[00:04:20] But this one really is on point.

[00:04:22] The soundtrack is awesome.

[00:04:23] The score and the soundtrack pics are perfect.

[00:04:27] So very good movie.

[00:04:29] Not too long, like 90 minutes.

[00:04:31] I think most people could enjoy it.

[00:04:33] And I think if you're anyone in that realm of this genre or being a fan of it, I would check it out for sure.

[00:04:39] Very underrated.

[00:04:41] I think it'll have a bit of a shelf life.

[00:04:43] I do just wish though that the plot especially towards the end was maybe a little toned down.

[00:04:48] I guess in some ways that is what makes it memorable but I didn't totally love it.

[00:04:53] Oh and also the, not to spoil it, like some of the twists on which girls turn out to be straight and which are gay is also very effective.

[00:05:03] And there's some good humor there.

[00:05:05] So highly recommend.

[00:05:08] So that one is a 4 out of 5.