LGBTQ Archives | MendoWerks

‘Bottoms’ is an Instant Comedy Classic (Review)

25Aug

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

‘Bottoms’ is an Instant Comedy Classic (Review)

While promoting her debut film 'Shiva Baby,' director Emma Seligman talked about how her next movie would be a "campy queer high school comedy in the vein of 'Wet American Summer but more for a Gen-Z queer audience." She has delivered with a wildly outrageous film called 'Bottoms.' PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebari) are hopelessly disliked at their high school. It's not because they are openly gay, but actually because they're "ugly and untalented." The two are desperate to lose their virginity before going off to college, but can't get any girls to look their way. That all changes once they form a "fight club" to attract the attention of some popular cheerleaders in their senior class. The unorthodox extracurricular activity brings the girls to them, but can they clos...

Prime Video Finds a Hit in ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ (Review)

Since launching on August 11, 'Red, White & Royal Blue' has become the most streamed movie globally on Prime Video in its premiere weekend. And within a few days, it apparently has become one of the most-watched romantic comedies in the history of the streaming service. How did that happen so fast? Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine star in Prime Video's 'Red, White & Royal Blue' It helps that the film is an adaptation of the wildly successful 2019 young adult novel of the same name by Casey McQuiston. It is the directorial debut of Matthew Lopez, a Tony-nominated playwright. Taylor Zakhar Perez stars as Alex Claremont-Diaz. His mother Ellen (played by Uma Thurman rocking a raucously ridiculous Texas accent) just so happens to be the first female Presi...

‘Stay On Board’ Chronicles Life of Trans Skateboarder Leo Baker (Review)

For two decades, Leo Baker was a professional skateboarder who competed professionally all around the world. Co-directors Nicola Marsh and Giovanni Reda followed Baker from 2019 to 2021 during a period of intense personal turmoil. The film begins with what should have been a career highlight - Baker was announced to represent the USA on the first-ever Women's Olympic Skateboarding Team. Leo Baker reaches new heights in 'Stay On Board' (Netflix) The problem? Baker was experiencing extreme gender dysphoria, already identifying themselves as Leo and using they/them pronouns amongst friends and family. Being chosen for the Olympics was a life changing moment, but not in the way you might expect. Every interview and comment that identified them as a woman became harder and harde...