‘Bottoms’-Not My Cup of Tea, but Not Without Potential

Photo courtesy of MGM.

Last night, I saw Bottoms. There were few enjoyable moments, emphasis on few, but with all due respect, it just reminded me of more tired high school drama that I don’t want people to see. 

For starters, two high school lesbians, played by Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri, start a fight club just to hook up with cheerleaders. Havana Rose Liu’s character of Isabel said to Ayo Edebiri’s character of Josie that she didn’t have to go along with this just to start a relationship with her, and Liu was right. The whole idea that just because parts of high school don’t think you’re popular and you have to lie and go to extreme lengths to prove them wrong is not a good message to send to people today. 

Mostly because I’m not a fan of hot-tempered vulgar language amongst kids today, fictional or otherwise, I didn’t find it all very enjoyable. One part I did was when Hazel, played by Ruby Cruz, stuck it to the man and blew up quarterback Jeff’s, played by Nicholas Galitzine, car in revenge for a long list of things. This all happened while he was mouthing to Bonnie Tyler. Classic. Another good thing to like about Hazel was how she actually thought the fight club through and got the girls to open up, and realize that they are more than the corrupt hierarchy makes them out to be. 

Another good moment was when Brittney, played by Kaia Gerber, reminded me of Emily Ratajkowski, off-screen and in I Feel Pretty, in that she wanted to prove she has more than just beauty, and wants to run her own business. 

As for Rachel Sennott’s character of PJ, I didn’t find her very likable throughout the movie. It’s because she wanted sex and nothing more, and was willing to get herself and others injured, and she didn’t seem very human like the other girls. However, when it came down to the final fight, I’m glad PJ finally set the record that she has more worth, and maybe found someone less shallow to be in her life. 

I’m also not a fan of the whole football being the one thing everyone should care about in school. But I did appreciate the slow motion when the girls took down their school’s rival and indirectly saved the day. I certainly wasn’t expecting one of them to actually impale a rival with a plastic sword, but still, enjoyed some of the energy. 

Having said all this, in a very misguided way, this film teaches that no matter what label society gives you, you can still accept yourself, find others who will, and if need be, fight back to prove others wrong. That’s a great final message for people on the LGBTQIA spectrum or not.  

All in all, Bottoms was not my cup of tea, but not without potential.