“Moxie” Means Well, But Falls Short
Feminist themes underdeveloped in teen comedy-drama
BY GARY M. KRAMER
The feminist teen comedy-drama,
“Moxie,” about a group of high school
girls who bond together to call out
sexism and racism at their school,
is likeable—almost aggressively so. The fi lm is
conscientious enough to include a multiracial
cast as well as a trans character, CJ (Josie Totah)
and a disabled girl, Meg (Emily Hopper).
And how can it not be inspiring to have these
feisty young women put “an end to the mediocre
white dude’s chokehold on success” by rallying
together to defeat the school’s straight, white
football hero, Mitchell (Patrick Schwarzenegger)?
But the fi lm, based on the novel by Jennifer
Mathieu, and adapted by Tamara Chestna and
Dylan Meyer, tries too hard to make its salient
points about female empowerment. Couched
in a coming-of-age framework typical of high
school fi lms and young adult novels, “Moxie”
opens with Vivian (Hadley Robinson) starting
her fi rst day of 11th grade. She and her BFF
Claudia (Lauren Tsai) are practically invisible,
which suits the shy Vivian just fi ne. But when
Lucy (Alycia Pascual-Peña), a new girl, opens
her mouth in English class, wondering why
they are reading “The Great Gatsby,” and not an
immigrant story, or feminist novel, or a book by
a person of color, Vivian starts to question her
personal politics. For Vivian, who is stumped
by the subject of her college application essay
— which asks for her to explain what she cares
about — this is the rude awakening she needs.
Seeking inspiration, Vivian fi nds some when
her mom (Amy Poehler) tells her about her own
radical youth days. Looking through a treasure
trove of zines that her mother saved and listening
to “Rebel Girl” by Bikini Kill, Vivian secretly
writes her own zine, entitled, “Moxie,” and distributes
it in school. Of course, it becomes a
sensation, prompting all the oppressed young
teens to form a club called Moxie to speak out
and act up.
Poehler’s fi lm is best as the young women
(and their male allies) fi nd strength and power
in numbers. They stage a protest against the
school’s dress code when one female student
is sent home for wearing a revealing tank top.
Moreover, they are discouraged that Principal
Shelly (Marcia Gay Harden) is oblivious to the
double standards for young women, and dismissive
when Lucy lodges a complaint that
Mitchell is harassing her or that a social media
post calls her an impolite word. (A scene briefl y
addressing the principal’s laissez-faire attitude
feels like lip service).
“Moxie” certainly tips its hat in favor of gender
Vivian, an 11th grader, writes her own zine called “Moxie.”
equality with its egregious examples of discrimination,
such as CJ being prevented from
auditioning for the role she wants in the school
musical. Likewise, there is a life lesson about
privilege when Claudia takes the fall for something
Vivian did. Vivian learns that her Asian-
American bestie is under considerable pressure
by her sacrifi cing mom to do well. It is a valuable
message, but it, along with other topics
from body shaming to losing one’s virginity, to
homosexuality—as seen in a kiss between two
female students — feel shoehorned into the plot.
These issues could have been explored more.
A signifi cant portion of the fi lm features Vivian’s
relationship with Seth (Nico Hiraga), who
discovers her secret and supports the zine’s
mission and the female student’s efforts. “Moxie”
does deliver the feels as Seth and Vivian go
on a date — in a funeral home, no less — and
are seen in an overhead shot sharing a coffi n
and listening to music together. But even as a
feminist, Seth’s character comes off as too perfect
to seem real.
Poehler’s fi lm swings wildly from mood to
mood, sometimes without much grace. The
fi lm’s humor tends to be broad. There is some
sarcasm, but most of the comedy is groan-inducing.
“Moxie” may generate a few smiles, but
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it is far better at generating emotion. Late in
the fi lm, a student anonymously contacts Moxie
about a serious matter that has occurred,
which prompts the girls and their allies to walk
out in protest. It is an important subject in the
#MeToo era, but it deserves more attention.
Nevertheless, when various characters give big
speeches at the fi lm’s rousing, upbeat ending, it
is hard not to applaud their efforts.
But “Moxie” is a bumpy ride until then. When
Vivian becomes angry as situations beyond
her control escalate, she fi ghts with her mother,
Seth, and Claudia in scenes that feel a bit
forced. Viewers are so squarely on the side of
this quiet subversive, that Vivian’s acting out
comes across as petty, and she loses sympathy.
Hadley Robinson, however, does make Vivian’s
transformation from wallfl ower to grrrl power
credible.
Poehler’s fi lm tackles important points, and
it may work best on younger, impressionable
viewers who need to be aware of the issues in
question. The fi lm is certainly engaging, and
the characters are easy to root for. But one cannot
help but think “Moxie” could have had more
punch.
“MOXIE” | Directed by Amy Poehler | Now
streaming on Netfl ix.
GayCityNews.com | MARCH 25 - APRIL 7 , 2021 29
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