Bottoms

Plot Summary

PJ and Josie are childhood besties who are lusting after the two prettiest girls in their high school, Brittany and Isabel. Unfortunately, the popular cheerleaders are not interested in queer relationships, and Isabel is already attached at the hip to the high school quarterback. Jeff the quarterback, is a caricature of a popular guy, while PJ and Josie occupy the lowest ring of social standing not because they are gay but because they are "gay, ugly, and untalented." Despite this, they have a fan in Hazel who spreads their joke of summertime incarceration as a fact and helps them start a fight club to get out of trouble with the principal and get attention from Brittany and Isabel. Hazel's intentions with the fight club are quite pure as a meeting space for female empowerment. The club gets approved and the girls bond while school spirit and football rivalries intensify leading up to the big game. 
 

Critical Evaluation

  Bottoms is a satire comedy that leans heavily into the tropes of a high school movie. The principal is unkind to the unpopular kids and even calls them to his office as "the ugly and untalented gays," a line that is repeatedly used in the movie. This would be unheard of behavior even in a fictional movie, but the satire pairs well with the sex-driven plot found in many coming-of-age movies. The movie reminds me of a mix between Superbad and But I'm a Cheerleader. A profanity-laden high school epic to get with the girl and a queer high school satire.  I enjoyed this movie and at times I wondered if it would be too mature for teens but then I remembered what kids my age were watching in high school and loosened my parental thinking. 

The aesthetic is nostalgic but also difficult to pin down. The music sounds like a 1980s John Hughs movie, the old-school diner and football obsession feels very 1950s, and the clothing is straight out of the 1990s. This nod to vintage pieces is current with the fashion of Gen-Z, and while it may appear to be reaching back it is very timely. Teens refrain from using their cell phones except in one scene where a football player is using his phone unnecessarily with a phone book. Another visual choice is the comical amount of fake blood used in fight scenes. Visually, this movie is as distinct as Clueless and likely to be remembered and recreated by its own devoted fan base.  

Creative Use for a Library Program

  Peer Group for Girls: Although extremely misguided in its intention, the participants of PJ and Josie's fight club did find support in a girl's group. In conjunction with a teen advisory board, see if there is enough interest in creating a group for young women who might not socialize normally. Consider advertising with local high school and homeschool groups. The activity for this demographic may be chosen by the participants or guided by the youth services librarian. Examples include crafting, movie nights, community service, maker space activities, etc. 

Reason for Inclusion

A queer coming of age without a coming out scene is a narrative that is underrepresented in young adult literature. The characters are already aware of their sexuality and admit that they do not face harassment because of it, as their queer classmates with talent enjoy popularity. Satire is a lighthearted poke at high school problems and adds fun to any collection. 

Potential Challenges and Defense Preparation

  As an R-rated movie, this DVD would likely be shelved with the adult collection. The language is very mature, and sex is talked about, though not shown, for much of the movie. Another challenge the movie could face is the harmful stereotype being used in the plot. The conniving lesbian is a harmful stereotype I was unaware of until reading a mixed review from a college newspaper (Curtis, 2023). To me, high school students doing everything they can to get with their dream girl is a trope that is not limited to a queer narrative. A strong reconsideration policy and commitment to intellectual freedom will protect a teenager's right to access this movie.