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Now They’re Here (Spoilers)

Josie (Ayo Edebiri) and PJ (Rachel Sennott) are two ugly (?) lesbian losers who are crushing on cheerleaders Isabel (Havana Rose Liu) and Brittany (Kaia Gerber). After rumors spread over them being juvenile delinquents who beat up Isabel’s d**k boyfriend Jeff (Nicholas Galitzine), Josie and PJ decide to lean into this new reputation by starting a self-defense fight club. It’s ostensibly for female empowerment, but really to get closer to Isabel and Brittany.

Other characters in the film include Hazel (Ruby Cruz), the club’s earliest supporter. Mr. G (Marshawn Lynch), the club’s sponsor and possibly the only teacher who works at the school. And Tim (Miles Fowler), Jeff’s best friend, who reminds me of Max Greenfield’s character in Promising Young Woman. There’s nothing definitive, but it seems like Tim’s in love with his best friend.

Side Characters

I felt so sorry for Hazel while watching this. Her only other friend is Stella-Rebecca (Virgina Tucker), who Hazel clarifies is a family friend. Before the fight club starts, the only characters we see her interacting with are Josie and PJ, who treat Hazel like a third wheel. Then later, PJ vents frustrations by telling Hazel she has no friends and her mom’s a s***k. Then Hazel gets beaten up in front of the whole school in a ploy to expose Josie and PJ as frauds.

I also feel sorry for anyone who discovered Cruz through this movie and wants to see more of her. Cruz’s biggest role besides Bottoms was as Kit in Willow (2022), which has been yanked off of Disney+ as part of an insidious cost-saving measure. That’s especially a shame because, like in Bottoms, Cruz was also solid in that show.

I also give props to Lynch as Mr. G. In the middle of Bottom‘s darkest hour, where the club finds out the truth and before PJ and Josie’s friendship temporarily breaks up, Mr. G comes along to give us a little bit of comic relief. Never underestimate the value of a good pressure release valve, especially in a movie when it’s done well.

Will They or Won’t They

Towards the middle of the movie, Josie and Isabel have sex. As a red-blooded American male, I feel it’s my obligation to be into that, but I found the scene very uncomfortable to watch.  Why? Because I’m deeply homophobic. Yeah, no, it’s because I spent the whole scene thinking, ‘No, Josie, don’t sleep with Isabel before coming clean. That’s going to make her finding out the truth so much worse.’ And it does.

However, ultimately, Josie and Isabel recoil and get together, but not PJ and Brittany. It turns out that Brittany’s straight, which PJ finds out after snapping at Hazel (call that karma). Of course, though she doesn’t end up with Brittany, there are hints that PJ doesn’t end up completely alone. Though nothing definitive happens, the end of the film ships PJ and Hazel. 

After PJ apologizes to Hazel, the members of the fight club need to cause a distraction (long story), so PJ and Hazel end up kissing, which they both seem very into. After this big fight scene (part of the same long story), Hazel is also shown asking PJ if she’s alright. That may be why Hazel was hanging out with her and Josie so much.

In Good Company

Whenever a new black comedy about teenagers comes out, I feel like there are always people hailing it as the next Heathers. Well, Bottoms might be the first movie to capture both Heathers’ quality and sheer ‘should I really be laughing at this.’ My favorite part of the movie is the fight club going to Egg and TP Jeff’s house, which ends with Hazel blowing up his car. Because what fight club would be complete without a little domestic terrorism?

Bottoms has gotten a lot of buzz, and to that, I say believe the hype. It is destined to join the likes of other great teen comedies like Clueless, Mean Girls, Easy A, and Booksmart. The film’s highlights include its humor, great performances, and how the whole movie looks beautiful. The costumes and the sets. Unless you are deeply homophobic, I’d recommend watching Bottoms now.