Satire That Laughs As It Kicks in Doors

Read Time:5 Minute, 15 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Bottoms (Blu-ray)
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Genre: Comedy
Year Released: 2023, Kino Lorber Blu-ray 20025
Runtime: 1h 31m
Director(s): Emma Seligman
Writer(s): Emma Seligman, Rachel Sennott
Cast: Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Ruby Cruz, Havana Rose Liu, Kaia Gerber, Marshawn Lynch
Where to Watch: available now, order your copy here www.kinolorber.com or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Here’s a comedy that doesn’t just bend the rules of teen movies—it acts like it’s never heard of them. The script feels like it was scribbled during detention, passed between friends with a smirk, and somehow made it to the screen without being finished. That’s not an insult—it’s a compliment. In a genre that often feels formulaic, this one throws the formula out the window, replaces it with barely-there motivations, and dares you to find meaning in the mayhem.

At its core, this is a story about two queer high schoolers who find an unorthodox way to chase their crushes: start a self-defense club. The plan is messy from the beginning—more about lust than liberation—but that chaotic energy becomes the entire point. Their scheme isn’t noble, but it evolves into something unexpectedly meaningful. This isn’t empowerment as a reward for good behavior—it’s rage, jealousy, and confusion, accidentally creating a place where the girls in the background finally feel like they matter.

It doesn’t care if its leads come off as the “hero.” PJ (Rachel Sennott) is brash and manipulative. Josie (Ayo Edebiri) is more timid, but still enables the chaos. Petty desires and false bravado drive them. And yet, that refusal to soften them feels like a challenge to everything we expect from teen comedies. Instead of trying to be admirable, these characters can be embarrassing, selfish, and deeply human. That decision alone pushes the material beyond standard genre territory.

Everything feels slightly too heightened, like a school pulled from a cartoon panel. The football players barely function, teachers check out emotionally, and the adults only appear when things are already spiraling. That doesn’t mean everything hits the mark. Some of the gags lean into territory that feels dated—echoes of parody comedies from years past. In these moments, the script feels less inventive than it wants to be. Some jokes rely more on shock than substance, and moments when the absurdity could have used sharper writing instead of louder execution.

Speaking of the cast, they deserve more credit than the genre typically allows. The two leads have the chemistry that makes even the most awkward exchanges feel deliberate. Their performances have a rhythm that grounds even the most over-the-top scenes. The supporting characters, meanwhile, do more than just fill in the gaps. Many of them get their own unexpectedly hilarious twists, subverting initial impressions and surprising us with layers that might’ve felt out of place in a more traditional script.

This project sits with you because it uses humor as a shield and a weapon. The satire doesn’t offer solutions or aim to be comforting. It pokes at uncomfortable truths—like how society gives endless passes to boys while expecting perfection from girls—and then keeps pushing, daring you to laugh at the contradiction. There are serious undertones, but they’re buried beneath bloodied noses, brawls, and lines that undercut any hint of sentimentality.

When heavier themes surface, they’re handled with the same irreverent spirit. A throwaway line about stalking is both disturbing and casually dismissed. A moment that should inspire reflection is interrupted by a joke. That inconsistency won’t work for everyone. But it's a fitting choice in a film that thrives on making the audience uncomfortable. This isn’t about guiding viewers through trauma but pointing to the mess and smirking while everything burns.

And yet, even with its flaws, the film stays with you. Not because of its polish, but because of its insistence on being wild, weird, and unapologetic. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a teenage prank gone too far—funny, chaotic, and dangerous enough to make the adults nervous. Whether you laugh with it or shake your head in disbelief, the experience is memorable.

BOTTOMS doesn’t ask you to like it. It dares you to deal with it. It thrives on pushing buttons, tripping over its punchlines, and celebrating characters who never ask for permission. It’s clumsy and clever in equal measure, loud when it should be quiet, and never interested in pleasing everyone. That kind of energy is rare, and whether or not you think it sticks the landing, it’s hard to ignore the swing.

Product Extras:
LIMITED O-CARD SLIPCASE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR NEW ORDERS. KINDLY REFRAIN FROM ASKING.

Audio Commentary by Cast Members Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Ruby Cruz, Havana Rose Liu, and Kaia Gerber
Audio Commentary by Director Emma Seligman
Deleted Scenes
Outtakes
Ride Along: The Making of Bottoms
Theatrical Trailer

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[photo courtesy of KINO LORBER]

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