Moxie
Based on the 2015 book of the same name by Jennifer Mathieu , which was in turn inspired by the 1990s Riot Grrrl feminist movement , Moxiesees a teenager in modern - Clarence Shepard Day Jr. America use an anonymously published zine to endeavor to interrupt the patriarchal standards at her high schooling . Moxiealso serves as Amy Poehler ’s latest directorial effort , after helming the 2019 Netflix movieWine Country . She ’s working from a book by Tamara Chestna ( After ) and Dylan Meyer ( XOXO).Moxiehas some heart and teeth as its Riot Grrrl - inspired teens boom the patriarchy , but it ’s more love letter to Gen X than a call to arms for Gen Z.
InMoxie , introverted teenager Vivian ( Hadley Robinson ) grows tired of the toxic environs at her high schoolhouse and after a sexist list betray all the girls gets posted , she pull inspiration from her female parent Lisa ’s ( Poehler ) story as part of the Riot Grrrl movement to lead her own kind of rotation . Vivian begin an anon. feminist zine called Moxie , which then inhale other girls at the school like newcomer Lucy ( Alycia Pascual - Peña ) and association football team captain Kiera ( Sydney Park ) - and even some of the boy , like Seth ( Nico Hiraga ) . But as the zine receives pushback from football team captain Mitchell ( Patrick Schwarzenegger ) and Principal Shelly ( Marcia Gay Harden ) , Vivian will need to decide exactly how far she ’s willing to go to make her eminent schooling a safer place for herself and all the other daughter .
Related : Every Movie and TV Show Releasing On Netflix In March 2021
Like many movies about teenagers written and maneuver by aged generations who did n’t grow up with social medium , Moxiehas some glaring blindspots when it comes to the purpose the cyberspace - in particular the way in which societal media and site like Wikipedia make info about women’s liberation movement and the experience of char readily available for young girls - plays in its characters ' coming - of - age feminist awakening . surely , the movie attempts to correct this by making social media a part of the Moxie motility , but it still leaves the central premise sense more relatable to Millennials and Gen X than the Gen Z teens the film describe . That ’s not to sayMoxiewon’t have any prayer to the teens it ’s point at , because it will , but mostly because the high school dynamics it depicts are unfortunately still relevant . And for those who have n’t heard of the Riot Grrrl movement , Moxieserves as a alone entry point to the modern conversation about women’s liberation movement .
To its credit , Moxiealso attempt to boom the scope of who exactly is participating in that conversation . Though Vivian and her female parent are both lily-white women , the Moxie inner forget me drug is direct by Black teens Lucy , Kiera and Amaya(Stargirl’sAnjelika Washington ) , and the motion-picture show set about to give voice to trans girls by sport Josie Totah ’s CJ and wheelchair - using teens by including Emily Hopper ’s Meg . There ’s also Vivian ’s best friend , Claudia ( Lauren Tsai ) , who struggles under the pressure of her immigrant mother ’s outlook to join Moxie in fighting the patriarchate . All this to sayMoxietries to make certain its feminism is more intersectional , but does n’t give these hold up characters enough to work with , leading them to feel one - greenback . Even Hiraga ’s Nico , who presents an opportunity to plow how men of color can be impress by the white male patriarchate , is left relegated to a trite male feminist ally use . This intend these support character spend much of the movie propelling Vivian ’s story and occasionally calling her out for her whiteness ( though not nearly enough ) . The roll is well - rounded and the player are all well suitable to their roles , butMoxie’sattempts at giving a part to the experience of many young women get as it revolve about Vivian ’s feminist waking up above all else .
Ultimately , Moxie’sheart is in the right-hand place , and there are sure to be many girls and women alike who link up to Vivian ’s get - of - age tale as she not only open up her center to the injustices of the patriarchy , but joins the fight against it . Its content is neither revolutionary nor only original , as many movies and appearance have attempted to tackle the sexism and colza polish plant in high school , but the Riot Grrrl elements and punk soundtrack do pop the question a reinvigorated spin on this kind of fib . WhileMoxiemay not instigate its own libber movement , and its thought and themes could ’ve been serve better by being more thoroughly explored , it offer a compelling narrative for teen girls who struggle with sexism in their own schools .
As such , Moxieis deserving a vigil for anyone interested in its premise , though it ’ll perhaps be more rewarding for Gen X and millennian women who were themselves radicalized by move to punk shows in VFW Hall . It also serves as a sweet mother - daughter movie , due in large part to Poehler pulling double duty as director and co - whizz , makingMoxiea fun watch for families - and may help as a good jump off degree for give-and-take . But aside from its clear substance , Moxieis simply an pleasurable stripling motion-picture show , and is doubtlessly deserving checking out for those looking to watch over something raw on Netflix . Though the film producer would no doubt love it if the motion picture inspired a fewMoxiegirls to fight back , it seems more in all likelihood designate to entertain some tribe already invested in women’s lib .
Next : Moxie Movie Trailer
Moxiestarts pour Wednesday , March 3 on Netflix . It is 111 minutes foresighted and rated PG-13 for thematic elements , secure language and intimate material , and some teen drinking .
Nico Hiraga, Amy Poehler and Hadley Robinson in Moxie
Moxie is a 2021 comedy - drama about a 16 - year - old fille who is inspired to write a feminist cartridge that call out sexism and other heinous act within her schoolhouse . The movie was directed by Amy Poehler and distributed by Netflix , with Hadley Robinson work the primary fictitious character Vivian . It was fairly well incur by critics , though some took objection to the way in which the story was told .
Emily Hopper, Anjelika Washington, Sydney Park, Sabrina Haskett, Alycia Pascual-Peña, Josie Totah, Hadley Robinson and Lauren Tsai in Moxie
