The Stream: High school comedy tropes abound, which means you know how this buddy comedy is going to go.

The Big Screen: Marshawn Lynch gives a hilarious and surprising performance.

The Final Bill: Clever jokes and a strong cast make for a funny and enjoyable movie experience.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Emma Seligman
Writers: Emma Seligman and Rachel Sennott
Stars: Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Ruby Cruz, Havana Rose Liu, Kaia Gerber, Nicholas Galitzine, Marshawn Lynch
Genre: Comedy
Rating: R for crude sexual content, pervasive language and some violence.
Runtime: 1 hour 24 minutes
Production Companies: Brownstone Productions, MGM, Orion Pictures
Platform: In theaters August 25, 2023
Notable Trailers: Strange Way of Life, Dicks: The Musical, Dumb Money, The Color Purple, Five Nights at Freddy’s

Do you remember the first rule of Fight Club, Streamers? That’s right. I won’t say it, but you know. Anyway, the teenagers in Bottoms make up some rules of their own for their afterschool all-female Fight Club, which is the focal point of this raunchy, teen comedy. Here’s how the punches got thrown.

Bottoms was directed and co-written by Emma Seligman, who wrote and directed a fantastic intense comedy, Shiva Baby – check it out if you have the time. Anyway, Bottoms takes place in an undetermined time but follows two “ugly, untalented gays”, PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri) as they begin their senior year in high school. PJ and Josie are outcasts, but they want to hook up with hot cheerleaders before the end of the year. After rumors spread throughout the school about PJ and Josie’s summer, they use their newfound cred to start a female self-defense club or a Fight Club in order to get close to their crushes. Bloody, teenage hijinks ensue.

Bottoms is very funny and unexpected. It’s a little all over the place, but that is to its credit. The movie has the structure of many teen comedies that we’ve seen before. In fact, the basic premise of having sex before the end of the school year is pretty standard for these movies like Superbad or American Pie except our main characters are lesbians. Nevertheless, the filmmakers have found a unique take and a daffy tone that pumps this well-worn genre and premise with life. Everything is very heightened and almost cartoonish in its execution. The screenplay gets major credit for having good jokes that are fast paced; and Sennott and Edebiri deliver high energy performances that tap directly into the weird and wonderful tone of the movie. Marshawn Lynch has a great role as a teacher attempting to be an ally to PJ and Josie. Lynch has some of the funniest moments in the movie. Who knew he’d be such a wild and gifted comedic presence?!?!

Ultimately, Bottoms is a clever and funny movie that turns the tropes of a raunchy teen comedy on its head. There is a strong ensemble that works well together to bring the laughs. Marshawn Lynch is especially surprising. Grab a big box of popcorn and have fun at the theater.