This past week, a new Netflix original dropped and now I’m completely obsessed with it. So, come with me on my review of Moxie!
Moxie follows the story of a shy girl named Vivian (Hadley Robinson) who discovers herself after starting a feminist revolution at her high school. Fed up with the administration and the sexism at her school, Vivian takes a page out of her mother’s Riot Grrrl past to make a difference and take a stand.
I went into this movie completely blind and it’s safe to say that I really enjoyed it. Directed by Amy Poehler, Moxie is a fun coming of age movie centered on women’s empowerment and finding your voice. Based on the YA novel by Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie shines a light on the Riot Grrrl movement and brings it to a new generation.
I’ve always been interested in the Riot Grrrl movement and wanted to learn more about it. Moxie gives you a window into the movement and how its effects on feminism can inspire just about anybody. Riot Grrrl was a feminist movement that started in the 90’s and encored more women to join in on the male dominated punk scene. Vivian’s desire to find herself and be a part of something after standing by for so long is a familiar sight when looking at today’s teens.
The cast is spectacular and brings a lot of different perspectives of what feminism and being in a movement means to them. Lucy, the new girl played by Alycia Pascual-Peña, steals the show as the heart of the movie and becomes sort of an inspiration for Vivian as someone who won’t let anyone tell her how to feel. Despite the diverse cast, I do wish we got to see more of them. The theme of intersectionality is mentioned, but in practice it falls short. There’s one scene where Claudia, (Lauren Tsai), Vivian’s best friend, confronts her about how despite the good she is doing, Vivian doesn’t understand the differences in upbringing between the two. Scenes like this make me wish for more from the movie and wonder if there would have been more of this if the movie was a tv show instead.
Despite some problems, the movement is successful and Vivian and her newfound community end up making a difference in their school. I really enjoyed the movie and the soundtrack adds to the fun. It’s light hearted enough to make you feel good and also makes you want to learn more about the Riot Grrrl movement. Moxie is really refreshing and makes you think about feminism and how making a difference can happen, even if it starts small.