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Bottoms… yes, Bottoms. Of all the films I could double-bill at the Cineworld, thanks to the current fuck-ups at Odeon where films are just disappearing from the schedule including many Warner Bros releases, it’s this one alongside How To Have Sex.
Before watching it, I saw a mention of how it’s a ‘queer comedy’, but why is there a need to define it as such? Comedy films should either be funny or not – sexuality shouldn’t enter into it. Do I ever say: “Hey! That’s a great straight comedy!”? No, I do not.
Lead characters PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem) have come to their new school straight from juvenile hall, or “Juvie”, and are trying to fit in, badly.
Meeting up with other girls, such as emo Sylvie (Summer Joy Campbell) and the popular Isabel (Havana Rose Liu) – the latter of whom has a very annoying boyfriend in high-school jock Jeff (Nicholas Galitzine – Cinderella 2021). And for reasons I can’t begin to remember, they start a self-defence club… which is largely just punching each other in the face, which is a ridiculous premise.
I heard a lot of good things about this, beforehand, but on watching it, it seems like every old idea and cliche rolled into one film. The ‘queer comedy’ comes about because every girl in the apparent ‘fight club’ is a lesbian, except Isabel who – because reasons – will also be persuaded to bat for the other side by the time the 91 minutes are up.
Meanwhile, the two best friends fall out – then make up, any virgins in the school just want to get their end away, and it’s all building up to an end-of-year American Football game, which is championed by those in charge, but for which no-one else gives a toss.
There were some outtakes over the end credits, but for the majority of the time, I was just waiting for this dross to end, and couldn’t begin to work out by the guy sat in front of me was laughing as loud as if he was, inside his head, watching Fawlty Towers for the very first time.
Now, how did I come to see this at Cineworld, despite being on Odeon Limitless? See my video above, as well as my review for The Royal Hotel.
Oh, and when was the age-old Orion Pictures studio name resurrected?
Bottoms is in cinemas now, but isn’t yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 91 minutes
Release date: November 3rd 2023
Studio: Orion Pictures
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 (Anamorphic Atlas Scope)
Cinema: Cineworld Didsbury
Rating: 3/10
Director: Emma Seligman
Producers: Elizabeth Banks, Max Handelman, Alison Small
Screenplay: Emma Seligman, Rachel Sennott
Music: Leo Birenberg, Charli XCX
Cast:
PJ: Rachel Sennott
Josie: Ayo Edebiri
Hazel Callahan: Ruby Cruz
Isabel: Havana Rose Liu
Brittany: Kaia Gerber
Jeff: Nicholas Galitzine
Tim: Miles Fowler
Mr G: Marshawn Lynch
Mrs. Callahan: Dagmara Dominczyk
Rhodes: Punkie Johnson
Annie: Zamani Wilder
Sylvie: Summer Joy Campbell
Stella-Rebecca: Virginia Tucker
Principal Meyers: Wayne Pére
Goth Kid: Toby Nichols
Tucker: Cameron Stout
Mathieu: Bruno Rose
Sharon: Elizabeth Newcomer
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.