The first scene has the two leads talking about being lesbians, their crushes, and how they are ugly. The dialog is tight and fresh with a naturalistic improv feel, but the characters are given little to do but care about their crushes. Basically, the first scene is a lie because the movie goes off the rails pretty quick after that. These two Hollywood ugly (come on, they are beautiful) women start a fight club to secure intimate exposure to the cheerleaders of their dreams while nothing remotely natural or normal happens around them.
The farcical nature of the film throws itself at you the moment they get to school after they hurt a football player at a carnival and blow it with their lusts. PJ and Josie have a regular date with the janitor to have their lockers painted over when vandalized, the principal refers to them over the loudspeaker as the "ugly lesbians without talent" (I think, my notes are wet due to spilling shit), and a kid is in a cage in a classroom. This is the Naked Gun of teen sex comedies when a notable teen sex comedy has not been popular in years (Booksmart might be the last and best).
It's funny, really funny, in parts, but who is this for?
People might hate this comparison, but the camera moves like Kevin Smith made it in 1995. Locked down master and two shots are the only thing the camera knows for most of the run time. Which is fine, it does not distract from the absurd crassness, but I got excited when the camera pushed in for a kiss.
The cast does an amazing job. Spotlight on Marshawn Lynch because he at least had a game subplot about his underlying divorce. Also Ruby Cruz as Hazel, although I felt her explosive tendencies were taken from Sylvie's character. Few of the fight club that have little to do other than fill out the group and deliver one memorable line.
The point of the movie is the sex comedy part, yet like a lot of Hollywood, the sex has been somewhat left out. I don't need nudity and full on porn, but this feels like that kid who loved to talk about sex with his Canadian girlfriend. If you want to talk about sex and make it the thing characters want then make it appealing. The movie has flashing and wet-tshirts and the only body that felt objectified was the male lead which seems counter productive. There's not even an afterglow, both covered by sheets and playing footsie while giggling. Just a kiss and a fall and next day "we had sex" talk. Good that nobody gets shamed or mad at least.
Anyway, I did not expect this movie to have a body count without a body count, but there you have it. Maybe there's a commentary about how violence is more acceptable than sex in movies. Could be, but if I'm saying "maybe" then the message did not go through well.
Sounds like I dislike Bottoms, but I kinda loved it. Smart, hilarious, and all around a great time at the cinema. Go see it.
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