"Bottoms" Stupid in the Best Way Possible

 


    I first watched this movie high with my friend when it was still in theaters, and it made zero sense to me then. And now, after watching it, I can see why it would still make no sense to someone, even if they're sober. Despite that, I kind of love this movie, with it's bumbling leads, awkward delivery, and just over-the-topness that makes you ask "how did this ever get greenlit?" I think for the most part it all sort of works, up until pretty much the end, when the film gives up any sort of pretense that it's following some sort of plot and just does some big gratuitous celebration, which I honestly don't mind. I suppose if you take this film too seriously you won't like it, but to that I say this film doesn't really take itself that seriously either, which is sort of how some parts of it become jarring.

    I think I'll be keeping this review short, after all the film is barely 90 minutes long, and frankly, the less you think about it, the funnier this film is in my opinion. This film is incredibly stupid and absurd in the best way possible, and I love it for that. No one ever cracks a smile or laughs at the situation, and it's basically just one big gag the entire way around. The football squad is treated as Gods, the idea of school is very very thin in this movie, and everything basically just exists so that the "fight club" PJ and Josie create can exist to some extent in the mind of viewers. I mean it's just some girls fighting each other and being dumb at the same time. Why can't Bottoms be ridiculous like every other 2000's coming of age movie it's making fun of, at the very least they're self-aware the entire time.

    I do have to say though, I think the weakest parts of the movie is when it's not being some super fun, super dumb satire. The juxtaposition between characters trying to confess their love to each other, with scenes where they're planting bombs on tree's felt really off. And I suppose that was sort of by design, because with how absurd the rest of the movie is, and how awkward the characters are supposed to be I'm not sure how else they were supposed to have done it. Like, for a movie that literally has the football club eating in a last supper-esque position, whatever Marshawn Lynch's character is, and Tim who only exists to be melodramatic this movie still manages to have dry spells during certain scenes. That's not to say there were enough of them for me to dislike the film, or that they were unwatchable, but these "boring" scenes were definitely noticeable. I'm not saying this film failed at delivering any of it's messages though, because there were actually some heartfelt moments about female solidarity throughout them. Like sure Sylvie wants to kill her stepdad, but the girls did discuss how to bond and unite through a common shared experience, being a woman.

Final Score: 69/100

    I mean it was funny, and I'd most certainly watch the film again, but I don't think I'd be able to place it on the upper echelon of movies I enjoy. I think part of it is that I've already seen it before, so the sort of shock value you get from watching just how absurd and stupid this movie is sort of wears off. This is only further compounded by the fact that it's so short as well, so it's not like it's hard to remember all of the gags or punchlines in this movie. In fact, despite watching it high the first time I'd say I remembered them all well. Even still, I'd say give this movie at least one watch, I do think it takes a certain kind of humour/person to enjoy the film, but you won't really know unless you try it right?

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