Bottoms (2023)
Director: Emma Seligman
Screenwriters: Emma Seligman, Rachel Sennott
Starring: Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Ruby Cruz, Havana Rose Liu, Kaia Gerber, Nicholas Galitzine, Miles Fowler, Marshawn Lynch
If Not Another Teen Movie and Heathers had a mischievous offspring, it would likely be Bottoms, Emma Seligman’s audacious 2023 teen sex comedy. Co-written by and starring Rachel Sennott alongside Ayo Edebiri, the film moves fast, aiming for outrageous laughs while also delivering sincere moments that land because of the chemistry between its leads.
The story follows Josie (Ayo Edebiri) and PJ (Rachel Sennott), two high school outsiders who describe themselves bluntly as “ugly, gay and untalented.” Ostracized and largely invisible to their peers, they are hopelessly infatuated with two popular cheerleaders, Isabel (Havana Rose Liu) and Brittney (Kaia Gerber). After a rumor circulates that Josie assaulted the quarterback Jeff (Nicholas Galitzine), PJ seizes upon the chance to rebrand their social image. She starts a self-defense “fight club” that quickly becomes a chaotic experiment in empowerment and adolescent performativity, all with the naive hope that it will win the hearts of the girls they adore.
What makes Bottoms particularly enjoyable is its commitment to an over-the-top, almost surreal version of high school. This isn’t meant to be a faithful documentary of teenage life; instead, it’s a stylized alternate reality where pep rallies curdle into full-contact brawls, swords pop up out of nowhere, and teachers are oddly peripheral. The school’s absurdities—like the unexplained presence of a caged football player in a classroom—become part of the film’s comic logic. That heightened tone frees the movie to pursue jokes and scenarios that would feel ungainly in a more naturalistic setting.
Seligman’s direction leans into camp and bold visual choices rather than contemporary tech references, sparing the film from feeling quickly dated. Costume designer Eunice Jera Lee outfits the characters in a playful mix of Y2K and early-2000s fashion, a trend that feels timely while also referencing the raunchy teen comedies the film riffs on. Rather than presenting a strict portrait of Gen Z, Bottoms borrows the energy of movies like Bring It On and the anarchic spirit of earlier teen satires, updating the approach with an unapologetically queer perspective.
Beneath the gross-out humor and cartoonish violence, the film does not shy away from moments of genuine emotional weight. Several scenes address the realities of sexual assault with a bluntness that is deliberately matter-of-fact—characters discuss traumatic experiences with the same weary cadence they might use to describe ordinary events. Those moments are sharp precisely because they’re embedded in a story that otherwise tilts toward absurdity, offering a contrast that gives the film surprising depth.
The soundtrack and score are also notable elements. Charli XCX and composer Leo Birenberg contribute an 80s-influenced synth backdrop that heightens the film’s melodramatic tone, and a few well-chosen pop needle drops—like Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated”—amplify the nostalgic and comic energy. The music choices help steer the film’s emotional beats, sometimes ironic and sometimes genuinely stirring, while maintaining a relentless rhythm across the narrative.
On the acting front, Sennott and Edebiri make an irresistible comedic duo. Their real-life rapport translates on-screen as effortless banter and improvisational ease. Both performers play to their strengths: Sennott brings a sharp, frantic energy while Edebiri offers a more grounded counterbalance. Supporting players do strong work as well—Ruby Cruz, Nicholas Galitzine, and Marshawn Lynch fill out the cast with memorable turns—but Havana Rose Liu frequently steals scenes with a blend of charm and sly humor that makes her performance stand out.
Bottoms is both a riotous comedy and an affectionate parody of teen movie conventions. It mines familiar genre beats for fresh, queer-forward satire while still delivering large, genuinely funny set pieces and emotional moments that resonate. The film wears its influences on its sleeve but manages to feel original through its tone, star turns, and willingness to be brazen. It’s a laughter-driven ride that lands as an entertaining and memorable entry in contemporary teen satire.
Score: 23/24
★★★★★
Rating: 5 out of 5.