My Weekend Crush

With all this anticipation (or lack thereof) about upcoming movies this week, I thought I’d reshare some love for one you can watch right this very second. Delayed gratification is for suckers. So if you haven’t already, pop on over to Amazon Prime and find “Bottoms.”

If you didn’t catch it last summer at the cineplex, or if you did, you can now enjoy the face-punching hilarity of this ridiculous lesbian high school fight club comedy from the comfort of your own home. I rewatched it when it was released on streaming last month and can highly recommend the experience.

I think what I enjoy most about this film is how it seamlessly fits into the pantheon of teenage hijinks movies. You can see its absurdist misfit teen lineage dating back to classic 80s fare like “The Breakfast Club” and “Weird Science.” And that makes me happy because it means, just maybe, queer cinematic narratives have finally moved on from coming out stories.

I’ve mentioned before how queer narratives crossing over into other genres is an important step in representation -- especially works where we aren’t just the sassy BFF or beleaguered coworker, but the stars and emotional engines of the stories. When the only stories told about you are those of suffering or struggle, it cuts us off from the full spectrum of human experiences. Much like how stories about BIPOC people shouldn’t only be about racism, stories about queer people shouldn’t just be about homophobia, internalized or otherwise (and that goes doubly for BIPOC queer people’s stories). Yes, those stories are still important (as anyone watching school boards ban books that might possibly make its straight white students “uncomfortable” can attest). But they shouldn’t be our only stories, period.

We’ve already conquered the lesbian period dramas, so much so that even SNL took notice. And we’ve been pretty successful with the horror/suspense genre thanks to works like “The Haunting of Bly Manor” and the “Fear Street” trilogy. Now we’re seeing it happen in the horny teen comedy genre thanks to movies like “Blockers,” “Booksmart,” “Bottoms” (uh, what’s with all the single-word B movies, lesbians?) I am clearly also very excited for the new Be Gay, Do Crimes genre of “Love Lies Bleeding” and “Drive-Away Dolls” and would love to see lots more of that in our collective futures.

So, as I was saying, reconnect with your inner high schooler and let the absurdity hit you right in the smacker. You won’t be sorry, though you might metaphorically lose a tooth. In a good way. Happy weekend, all.

Gender Fuck Thursday: Bottoms Edition

Honestly, I think I’m gonna go see “Bottoms” again. Wait, does that make me the creepy middle-aged lesbian going to see the teenage lesbian movie again? Shut up, everyone is well into their 20s in the cast. Also, Ayo Edebiri, Rachel Sennott and Emma Seligman look good in their suits.

Granted, they look a tad “How do you do, fellow kids” in their street wear. But, maybe that’s just my middle-aged lesbian eyes seeing it that way.

Movie Review: "Bottoms" Up

Oh, goodness, you should go see “Bottoms.” It’s the teenage lesbian fight club comedy of your wildest (and I mean wildest) dreams. It reminds me, in its energy if not its style, of “But I’m a Cheerleader.” But whereas Cheerleader leaned into its colorful camp, Bottoms goes for the comedy throat punch – literally and figuratively.

While high school girls slugging each other in the face might seem a little jarring, the fim’s genius is in its dedication to its unhinged premise. Two unpopular lesbian best friends (played by Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott) attempt to score chicks by starting a “self defense” club at their high school, and the plan kind of works – and draws a lot of blood.

As far as teen lesbian movies go, “Bottoms” is refreshingly over the coming out narratives. Nor is it about anti-gay bullying or anything very special episode worthy (though, obviously, not that those kinds of stories aren’t important). But this movie is just about two weirdo friends who somehow land the girls of their dreams by beating each other up. Director Emma Seligman (who co-wrote the script with Rachel) took your standard madcap high school comedy romp and said, make it queer! And absurd! Both in a good way!

The gonzo gusto and awkward everything of Ayo and Rachel and the rest of the cast make this wonderfully weird movie work, when nothing should work (especially their plan, especially). Also, holy doppleganger Batwoman, is Kaia Gerber the spitting image of mama Cindy Crawford or what? Like, it was almost distracting. Anway, where was I? Oh yeah, first rule of teenage lesbian fight club is everyone should go see the teenage lesbian fight club movie.

Race to the Bottoms

In an alternate universe where the heads of studios and streamers understood the irreplaceable contributions that the writers and actors provide to a process that has made a lucky few like them and their fellow CEOs obscenely wealthy already and actually paid the creative class fairly instead of trying to replace them with machines, we would no doubt all be delighting in the press tour antics of Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri as they promoted “Bottoms.” But instead, we’ve only got their work in the trailer and clips to try to glean every last queer drop of publicity and enjoyment we can from. Which, that being said, is still considerable. I recently, finally, watched Rachel in “Shiva Baby,” but have yet to start “The Bear” (though I’ve enjoyed Ayo in “Abbott Elementary"). So I know the talent involved is considerable. I just hope that a pair of teenage lesbian losers who start a female fight club in their high school to meet girls is a comedy and satire concept the wider world can recognize and embrace without, you know, some charming press tour antics to grease the endlessly hungry maw of our social media attention span. Yes, I am talking in long sentences without pause for some reason right now, don’t question, just admire my literary breath control. *gasps*

Anyway, to get those not normally inclined to maybe attend a female-led queer comedy, it apparently also stars former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch. Go see this movie this weekend if you can because, well, gay stuff…and sportsball stuff. Go Team (and that team is Gay).

Queer Female Fight Club

A queer, female fight club? Say less, I am already in. IN, I SAY. I got a press release for “Bottoms” the other day and didn’t pay it much mind. I mean, the follow-up to “Shiva Baby” from writer-director Emma Seligman appeared at first glance to be another horny teen comedy, but from a female perspective. But then, I should always remember the “Blockers” doctrine, which is to give all female-led and created teen comedies a fair shot. And, goodness, am I glad I pressed play on this trailer. Seligman and “Shiva Baby” star Rachel Sennott co-wrote the script. Then add “The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri as co-lead and fellow queer high school loser and I am 100% in. Bring on the bare knuckles. Let there be blood! And, hopefully, a good amount of girl-on-girl making out. What? It’s a horny teen comedy for a reason.