It sparks a movement and it will totally inspire you to want to do the same. Sometimes she gets it wrong. However, the boys' football team gets all the attention and financial support from the school even though they lose every game during the film. Her refusal to act even when Lucy is the victim of abusive behaviour allows toxic acts to perpetuate, and her response of sticks and stones to Lucy after shes been verbally abused is the catalyst which drives Vivian to action. In addition, dress codes are racist, as evidenced by numerous examples, including one in which a Black girl in the UK was repeatedly sent home for having an afro. The girls' soccer team is actually a winning team, including going to the state championships in the last year. Vivian fails to realize this, even though she and Claudia have been best friends their entire lives, and she gets increasingly frustrated with Claudia for not joining in on Moxies more rebellious activities. http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/Moxie. Share your thoughts in the comments below. Boys tease girls and touch them in ways that make them uncomfortable, including slaps on the butt or pulling them down on their laps. Thats when Vivian does one last thing from the social media account and stages a walk-out at school. note: This review contains slight spoilers for Moxie.]. After he's tripped up in costume, everyone finds it hilarious even though he broke his arm. She hopes to audition for the school musical, but shares that people are outraged by her decision due to her being trans and also continue to deadname her, including teachers. But the movies greatest disservice is how it has all the pieces in place to really examine intersectionality, and instead ultimately falls flat. TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. This kind of sh*t happens all the time in real life. 111 minutes Cast Hadley Robinson as Vivian Carter Still, just when you think Poehler may have cast her net too wide, she flicks it back with a self-aware wink, like Vivian's insistence that her mom give up milk, Lisa's prominently-placed NPR tote, or Claudia's polite concern that a Hawaiian-themed party doesn't feel "culturally sensitive.". Fans React to Characters in "The Little Mermaid", "The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" Trailer Is Here, 33 of the Best New Horror Movies to Watch in 2023, New "Kardashians" S3 Trailer Just Dropped. Shes been an entertainment journalist for more than 15 years previously working at DVD & Blu-ray. Did you know you can flag iffy content? The main ones surround Mitchell and Principal Shelley. And it was a smart idea at the script level to start the film with Vivian mulling over her college application essay, that rite of passage for college-bound high-schoolers who are expected to both summarize their lives and show themselves to be wholly unique. Vivian gets angrier and angrier throughout the movie. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Poehler also knows to step out of the way and let the teen actors carry the film, which they do with plausibility and confidence, particularly leads Robinson, Pascual-Pea, Tsai, and Nico Hiraga as Vivian's love interest. And yet, Principal Shelley went to the classroom to get Mitchell. Once Lucy gets the recognition she deserves, Ill stand behind Poehler and become a member of Moxie myself. and does not have any time for his sycophancy of the team that is led by her rapist, Towards the end of the film, he has moved the second paper underneath the first. Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. The queen is the best.. She and Vivian are close but somewhere along the line communication with her daughter has dropped off. But he surprised me through his support for the Moxie girls and by holding Vivian to high standards by calling her out on her mistakes. At the end of the day, its more a story about Vivian than about Moxie. Lauren is a well-known illustrated who has created works for Marvel and Mortal Kombat. Davies doesnt know how to handle his pupils burgeoning interest in feminism and so he does nothing. Can it continue? Fans of co-star/director Amy Poehler are also likely to flock to Moxie. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. This could be a meaningful emotional thread, except that for most of the film, their relationship is sidelined, only really ramping up at the end for the sake of emotional catharsis. We appreciated how Amy Poehlar handled a multitude of complex topics in one simple, clear and relatable story. Netflix's latest film, Moxie, follows a group of young women at a high school where a yearly list ranks them sexually and they've had enough of it. There are also weird framing devices in the beginning a nightmare Vivian has of being unable to scream, as well as her uncannily relevant college essay question that immediately disappear, only to be randomly referenced near the end of the movie. He is also a professional skateboarder. In the end, I give this movie 5/5 in positive messages, and defiantly 5/5 for positive role models. At the same time, there are a few questions left over. At 16, I learned about riot grrrl feminism through a cool friend on LiveJournal, and went down my own journey of devouring feminist literature and dancing around my room to Bikini Kill. Inspired by the riot grrrl movement a feminist punk movement from the 90s an anonymous student decides to create their own zine, Moxie, to help share their frustrations. We watched it as a family and aside from the kissing scene in the car, my 12 year old daughter described the movie in two perfect words! Dress codes contribute to the sexualization of young womens bodies and communicate that boys learning is more important than girls learning, as girls are often pulled out of class for distracting boys. Using her mom's previous zines and the Riot Grrrl movement as inspiration, she decides to create her own zine, titled Moxie in the hopes of bringing change and helps her come Just please tell me that this friendship group remains strong, because it was awesome to see Vivian, Lucy, Claudia, and so many others come together to support each other. So who is starring in Moxie? By the end of the movie, though, any tensions have been dropped. We all Netflix's latest film, Moxie, follows a group of young women at a high school where a yearly list ranks them sexually and they've had enough of it. Its a sweet character journey about standing up to school sexism but it could be so much more. It has strong feminist messages, as well as some mature content. 11 Peter Pan Movies To Watch for Some Magic. A 2011 study published by (American Association of University Women) AAUW found that of the almost 2,000 students surveyed nearly half, 48 percent, experienced some form of sexual harassment that school year. His smirky condescension is pure sexist gaslighting, yet Vivian cant yet see it for what it is. Sexual language used to describe teenage girls includes "bangable," "ass," "hot selfie," "rack," "MILF," and "the C word." Moxie stars Hadley Robinson as Vivian, a 16-year-old who discovers feminism through the mementos of her mother, Lisa (Amy Poehler, who also directed the film), who was in the riot grrrl scene as a young woman. You can help us help kids by I wouldve liked to see a deeper exploration of the roles whiteness and white supremacy play in white girls feminist awakenings. Early on, when quizzed about her activist past, Lisa tells her daughter that her youthful rebellions were riddled with mistakes, including a lack of intersectionality in her activism. Id say it should do, especially with the Instagram account. Mitchell will get away with most of it, getting a three-month probation or something. In a February Forbes article, author Janice Gassam Asare explains: Fetishization can be thought of as the act of making someone an object of sexual desire based on some aspect of their identity. She goes on to say: Saying that you want to associate with someone or date them only because of the racial/ethnic group that they belong to or some aspect of their racial identity may be a good indication that you are engaged in fetishization., Seeing male harassers and assaulters protected, In Moxie, the school principal dismisses Lucys claims that Mitchell is harassing her. Emma is the most popular cheerleader in school and often a target for the guys. Teen girls raise their voices against injustice. She recognizes when she is treated unfairly and isnt afraid to stand up for herself or the people around her. When I first saw the trailer for the new Netflix comedy Moxie, out on March 3, I felt like the movie had been made for me, specifically. Its about how the movie ends. I also wouldve liked to see greater representation of the experiences of disabled girls, fat girls, and queer girls. I started the Moxie Sessions podcast to highlight the REAL behind the scenes of | 57 comments on LinkedIn I rated this movie 12+, because I think that everyone should watch this - and not just high school girls. A minor character will say something thats interesting or insightful, but we quickly move on to the next thing, making it feel like lip service. With Lucy and other students, Moxie replicates a much-criticized trope of Black characters being included mostly in order to help white characters learn something about themselves and the world. As the new girl, Lucy is targeted by Mitchell, and while she has the guts to talk back to him, the film never explores how her race also makes her particularly vulnerable, given that Black girls are more likely to experience sexual harassment at school. Vivian has a dream in which she's being chased through a woodsy area and nobody can hear her screaming. Read the latest from JWA from your inbox. Soon enough, the list hits, and all the girls get labeled. Emma, his co-host on the morning bulletin, is extremely tired of his lame puns. Earlier he used to be called Seth "The Shrimp". Espaol (prximamente) - volver al inicio, Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More, 50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12, Common Sense Selections for family entertainment, Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More, 50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12, YouTube Kids Channels for Kids Who Love Cartoons, Exploring and Celebrating Multicultural Families with Entertainment. Details. Black girls are vocal about the offensive precedent of being judged historically by "their asses and their hair," and they ask that people respect their bodies. Cast. Vivian gets inspired by her riot grrrl past and learns a lot about zines and the movement from her. The official Netflix score was composed by Mac That weirdly contrived wokeness bogs Moxie down, even though its an otherwise sweet, empowering film about one girl gaining the self-confidence to stand up for herself and her peers. There is a lot of swearing, some drinking, and romance that parents of younger kids might be hesitant about. This movie also shows that teen girls are tough. I can probably guess what happens next. If your school didnt have a list where guys ranked the girls, you were lucky. Stepmom. Did you know you can flag iffy content? After Vivian advises Lucy to just ignore Mitchells taunting and harassment, Lucy responds that this kind of behavior is often a prelude to worse stuff. Cr Colleen Hayes/NETFLIX 2020. Its Claudia, though, that officially registers Moxie so the gang can put up posters in the hallways, a move which ultimately results in her suspension from school a very grave outcome from her familys perspective. Another former Rising Voices Fellow, Shira Small, wrote a piece in 2017 detailing how, when she was a sophomore in high school, the freshman boys created a March Madness style bracket that evaluated all the girls in the school based on looks. Mitchell is the school's typical football star who is able to get with almost anything due to his high status. A teen girl tells the story of how she was raped. The final act though, offers hope for her to change the walkout and protest means she finally has to talk Mitchells behavior seriously and there is hope that she will learn from her mistakes. Its something women continually feel. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. This is a chance to point out any other sexist behavior that continues in the school after this. It wouldnt be a high school coming-of-age movie if there wasnt a love interest. | A post shared by Anjelika Washington (@anjelikaw). It did leave questions, though. If you were looking for another reason to hate Mark Zuckerberg, youre welcome., In Moxie, we learn that a student of color, Kiera (Sydney Park), always wins best ass in the boys ranked list of the girls in their class. Teen girls show courage and teamwork in standing up to their school's long-held but sexist traditions, which are actively ignored by most teachers and administrators. Oops. That queen-and-king line isnt the only clunky dialogue. Lauren Tsai as Claudia, Hadley Robinson as Vivian in Moxie. Claudia shows courage in taking the fall for Vivian despite the higher-stakes risks for her. newsletter. We see the principal get Mitchell from class (because, of course, he didnt walk out in support of the girls), but the focus is on the group of girls and boys who are in support to change the sexist ways of the school. It did leave questions, though. I could recite facts about the wage gap, but didnt know how much worse it was for women of color. Pascual-Peas character Lucy Hernandez is the new girl in school. Moxie isnt a polemical, its a fun, joyful movie which celebrates people of all ages, races and genders trying to do their best, but its also a smart look at different attitudes to inclusiveness and equality, to protest and change that might be about feminism in this instance but isnt confined to that issue. Called out: In the middle of class, Kaitlynn is publicly sent home by Principal Shelly because her tank top is allegedly inappropriate. Each of the main characters has an arc which explores different kinds of responses to feminism. The connection between Vivian randomly remembering the lyrics to Rebel Girl and finding her moms old stash of zines, then creating her own zine, is thin. Saved by the Bell fans will certainly recognize Alycia thanks to her role as Aisha in the brand new reboot series. Vivian (Hadley Robinson) is a shy high school junior who doesn't realize how messed up the social hierarchy is at her school until new girl Lucy (Alicia Pascual-Pea) moves to town and points it out in MOXIE. Vivian is moved to action in large part because of her early encounters with Lucy, the new Black girl in school, but its Vivians story thats centered, and she receives most of the glory, which is problematic. Get personalized recommendations. A post shared by Josie Totah (@josietotah). Official Sites Via Netflix. The movie's main message is that all people should be treated respectfully and equally regardless of gender or skin color and that sexist behavior and gender stereotypes have no place in contemporary society. At the end of the film, we find out she was upset upon seeing him because he, signaling his awakening and support for the female students, Amaya doesnt get much characterization outside of being on the soccer team with Kiera and her eventual relationship with Lucy. Moxie scratched some of the feminist-awakening itch the trailer promised, and there were moments of delight in watching girls get shit done. He is not afraid to speak out against things that he views is wrong and is a surprise supporter of Moxie. How does his character subvert gender stereotypes? Characters specifically talk about being more intersectional. It was refreshing to see third-wave feminism front and center in a Netflix teen tale, rather than the usual pinkwashing, girl boss brand thats still so popular. A post shared by Patrick Schwarzenegger (@patrickschwarzenegger). While she initially sees it as a one-off to vent her own frustrations, the idea catches fire with the girls at school and Vivian finds herself at the center of a cultural revolution. It all made me wonder why Lucy, who was miles more compelling than Vivian, couldnt be the protagonist. Many bands and songs featured on soundtrack, but Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill plays an especially prominent role. Pascual-Peas character Lucy Hernandez is the new girl in school. The main character, 16-year-old Vivian, played by Hadley Robinson, is living through her cookie-cutter movie version of a teenage awakening. Sabrina previously auditioned for American Idol back in 2014 and recently starred in Radiant Studio's Happy Hazel on YouTube. Im here to say that theyre not. She doesn't know how to accuse him of rape when they were a couple at the time of the assault. How does Vivian show courage, and how do the girls show teamwork? Meg joins the Moxie group after the first zine drops. A post shared by Alycia Pascual-Pena (@alyciadelsol). She is also the first student to stand up against golden boy Mitchell Wilson ( Patrick Schwarzenegger ), who Remove Ads. At the first pep rally after this he specifically asks the team not to high five him too hard as his arm still hurts and none of them listen. Saved by the Bell fans will certainly recognize Alycia thanks to her role as Aisha in the brand new reboot series. Nico starred in Booksmart as Tanner and is set to be in the upcoming Amazon Prime series, The Power. Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity. Kaitlynn is a student in Vivian's class who tries to keep to herself despite many people looking at her differently due to her body. You know what I just realized? Filming & Production She also currently appears as Cyndie in The Walking Dead and will also star in the upcoming Netflix film, There's Someone Inside Your House. WebWhat is the C word in moxie? My fear is that some audiences watching this movie may think the challenges Moxie portrays are unrealistic or overblown. Shelley makes some valid points shes not wrong about it being important for things to be done within school rules, that girls should pull up a chair if we want a seat at the table, but her apathy leads to toxicity going unchecked. Finally finding her voice, Vivian stands up in front of the girls who have walked out of class in protest over the rape of a girl and admits that she is the maker of Moxie. Get your scissors and markers ready, because it's time to join the Moxie revolution. In Moxiedirected by Amy Poehler, Lucy (Alycia Pascual-Pena). Using her mom's previous zines as inspiration, she decides to create Moxie in the hopes of bringing change. Jewish Women's Archive. Take the moment when Claudia tells Vivian that, as the daughter of a Chinese immigrant, she feels less able to rebel openly, like Vivian does. Maya Jodidio, a former JWA Rising Voices Fellow, wrote a blog post in 2016 in which she detailed the difficulties of being a high school girl interested in math and science. This explanatory role extends to other BIPOC characters in the film, like Vivians best friend Claudia (Lauren Tsai). The plot revolves around Vivian, who stands up to sexism at her high school, helping girls be heard and stand up to harassment. He's shirtless, and she's wearing an undershirt; he says he wants to wait until another time so they can go slow and make it special. (The latter is even called out when the principal suggests a Lean Instyle attitude to Vivian, much to her disappointment.) Mitchell raped a girl the previous year, she seems to finally start taking proper action. She should start the Moxie club and get all the credit that she deserves. Moxie should have been about Lucy exploring the legacies of the Sista Grrrls that came before her, such as Ramdasha Bikceem, Tamar-kali, Honeychild Two characters make out in a car and talk about "doing it" (both for the first time). And caring is a beautiful thing. And what can we expect from their characters? The drinking leads to some risky behavior. Click here to fill out our Readership Survey! Release Dates She is well-known for being a starring cast member in Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreation. (Maybe only one new kid is allowed in Vivian brings the host a bottle of wine. Sabrina previously auditioned for American Idol back in 2014 and recently starred in Radiant Studio's Happy Hazel on YouTube. Fascism festers in the Sunshine State | Hard Right Turn, EDITORIAL: It may be ironic coming from us, but its okay to not have an opinion, EDITORIAL: The State of the University 2022-2023, A year in Warren Towers: Its nothing like the movies | Tough Love. Despite Moxie's imperfections, those voices will speak to many. If so, what is it? Firefly Lane and the Compulsion of Newness, Netflixs Hindi Version of The Girl on the Train Has a Wild New Ending, Behind Her Eyes: the Book Detail Too Nasty for the Netflix Show, Always Sunny to Talking Sopranos: The Best TV Rewatch Podcasts Hosted By Cast & Creators, The Star Trek Story Bridging the Gaps Between Deep Space Nine and Picard, Taskmaster and The Underrated Comic Genius of Kiell Smith-Bynoe, How Netflixs Moxie Explores Different Reactions to Feminism. She gets inspired by Moxie to speak out about her own experiences. Frustrated by the myriad injustices she witnesses against girls at school and inspired by an old stash of feminist zines of her mothers (Poehler), Vivian (Hadley Robinson) launches her own with some help from her friends. Teens drink during a raucous house party scene, and there's another sequence in which main character Vivian (Hadley Robinson) has too much champagne and throws up in front of her mom. Colleen Hayes / Colleen Hayes/NETFLIX 2020, which hilariously captures the spirit of Gen Z girls. In the books, Lucy is also new at the school, like Seth. Josephine is well-known for her role as Tessa in the hit movie series After. Lucy complains that her assigned English reading only consists of books by rich white dudes which might have more impact if the first episode of Netflix Original Ginny & Georgia didnt have a very similar scene, airing just a few weeks ago. PG-13. Parents need to know that Moxie, which is based on Jennifer Mathieu's YA novel, is an upbeat coming-of-age dramedy directed by Amy Poehler (who also-co stars). Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. I petition for Lucy to become the new main character. But generally, its satisfying to see Vivians evolution from shy wallflower to leader emboldened by anonymity. Think Bryce Walker on13 Reasons Why, because thats the type of thing that happens in a system that is inherently sexist. Seth seems like your average skater boy, but he is definitely far from of it. The Hook Up Plan season 3 release date, cast, synopsis, trailer and more, Age of Samurai season 2 release date, cast, synopsis, trailer and more, Netflix's Moxie gives us everything good about the book and more. It has strong feminist messages, as well as some mature content. Rabbi Raquel Has a Place in the Hahnaissance, 1999 Watergate Comedy, "Dick," Teaches Us to Take Teen Girls Seriously, 2011 study published by (American Association of University Women) AAUW, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. She says they werent intersectional enough, that they called their meetings pow wows and in general were making up their forms of protest as they went along. Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide. Poehler and the filmmakers imbue Moxie with triumphant moments of the girls uniting, though by trying to be more socially aware, they end up not actually doing much with their diverse cast. Teen girls are not to be underestimated. Even in places where other characters take the lead, the film sticks to Vivians limited point of view: Moxie pits Kiera against Mitchell for an athletic scholarship, but after the fallout, the focus isnt on Kiera. It's important to learn about these kinds of things so when you have to deal with them, you know how to. The seasonal vibes may be overwhelmingly autumnal, but Stepmom is a Mothers Day movie if ever there was one.Directed by Chris Columbus, the 90s tearjerker portrays a key moment in the evolution of a family as Jackie (Susan Sarandon), a divorced mother of two, comes to terms with not only a terminal diagnosis, In the fictional high school in Moxie, each year the boys publish a list in which they pick girls as winners for categories such as most bangable, best ass, and best rack. If only this didnt actually happen in real life, but it does. Alycia Pascual-Pena as Lucy Following her breakthrough performance in the Saved By the Bell reboot, actor Alycia Pascual-Pena steps into the role of Lucy in There are some women who dont want a younger generation to gain equality trying to gain a simple life. Did you know you can flag iffy content? Moxie puts that tricky evolution on display, with Vivian stumbling over how best to express her rage, figuring out how to target it at the right people, and trying to navigate a rather cute romance with the very sweet, feminist-minded Seth (Nico Hiraga). The girl next to her was also wearing a tank top, but she wasnt body-shamed or pulled out of class because she was smaller-chested. A girl describes a boy as "hot." What you willand won'tfind in this movie. Seth (Nico Hiraga), Lisa (Amy Poehler), and Vivian (Hadley Robinson). Poehler and the writers try to balance a wide range of issues, but fail to meaningfully integrate them into the story. Something went wrong. She doesnt have the trust of the students and this entire walkout was put on social media. Teen girls are resilient. Heres the Moxie ending explained. Netflix has been a bit scarce these days for me, so I was ready for Poehlers new movie, Moxie. I was expecting a Mean Girls type of vibe, with some hints of Baby Mama both of which feature Poehler. We won't share this comment without your permission. How does Seth compare to most of the other boys at Vivian's school? Vivian isnt sure what to do until she gets an anonymous letter about being raped. But instead of recognizing the strength of a minority character, Poehler gave all of the credit to the white character. Boys can be as sensitive and committed to gender equality as girls. She is also the first student to stand up against golden boy Mitchell Wilson ( Patrick Emma had the courage to tell people that Mitchell raped her, but thats it. Patrick previously starred in films like Midnight Sun and Stuck in Love. Does she really get to remain principal after everything that happened? And keep in mind that this study only covers sexual harassment, not all forms of harassment., At one point in the movie, a young woman is pulled out of class by the principal and sent home for wearing a tank top. I complained about the standards for womens bodies, but didnt know they were rooted in anti-Blackness. Lucy was the real star of Moxie. Poehler decided to keep to the basic and formulated plotline of white saviorism. What you willand won'tfind in this movie. For example, CJ (played by Josie Totah, who is trans) talks about her name not being respected at school, but thats the most we hear about her experience as a trans high schooler. Kaitlynn is a student in Vivian's class who tries to keep to herself despite many people looking at her differently due to her body. Vivian is most obedient. Lucy is the class c-word. Yeah. Moxie is, at heart, a coming-of-age tale, and maybe also a generational one, since transitions are generally marked by eye-opening experiences and change. People should be treated respectfully and fairly regardless of gender or skin color. Dress-code foolery is also a prime example of how adults who should be supporting young women continually fail them by upholding patriarchal and white supremacist norms., Boys making lists that rank girls based on hotness, This is a fun one, isnt it? But while Moxie succeeds at showing the power of girls working together, it doesnt have the wit, bite, and fun of its recent peers. We need to break it all down in this post with theMoxieending explained. After the boys at Vivians school make a list ranking the girls and their so-called fuckability, Vivian makes a zine, called Moxie, to spread the gospel of gender equality. Lucy is the brand new girl in school who Mitchell decides to bother when she goes to class. Lucy also takes the blame since she started the Instagram account. Why? Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Teens drink at a house party while a classmate's parents are out of town. In Amy Poehlers coming-of-age comedy-drama, a teenage girl inherits her moxie from her mom. And like me, Moxie is admirably earnest nowhere more so than with its often ham-fisted dance around more complex elements of feminism and inclusion. Every year, a group of popular boys, led by football captain Mitchell (Patrick Schwarzenegger, who pulls off the charming-douchebag role with almost alarming finesse), roll out a ranking of female students, giving them degrading titles like Most Bangable and Best Rack. When new student Lucy (Alycia Pascual-Pea) dares to speak up against Mitchell, she gets blasted on the list. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. This turns out to be completely correct, as Mitchell has raped at least one girl before. Emma seems highly uncomfortable with Mitchells sudden appearance in the news studio.