Moxie is a fantastic feel-good movie about girl-power and women standing up for themselves in a patriarchal society.
Netflix seems to have its finger on the pulse of what we need as viewers. They know what is played out and inappropriate, and they know what progress film and media need to commit to, this is true of Moxie. Moxie is a film that is of its time. It is a snapshot of what the world is, or what it ought to be moving towards.
Gone are the male-led teen comedies of aggressive dude-bros trying to get laid, and not a moment too soon. Moxie, like its film and television predecessors: Booksmart, Lady Bird, Edge of Seventeen, I’m Not Okay With This, The Half of It, Never Have I Ever, etc., have forged a place for girls and young women to see realistic versions of themselves in the film more than ever before.
Women in these films are strong, intelligent, and capable, and more than ever they are being celebrated for that. Moxie thrives in its progressive view of what the world ought to be like: women and girls standing up for themselves and for each other, against those who would hold them down. Although the movie boasts a strong message of feminism, consent, and rebellion against the patriarchy, it does so with some levity.
With Amy Poehler at the helm, Moxie delivers its message through the lens of Poehler’s fantastic comedic sensibility. Poehler herself shines as a realistic mother, not that of a Hollywood version of what a mother should be. Her character feels unique and lived in, as though her rebellious youth was not simply a plot device, but actually experienced. The chemistry between Poehler and Hadley Robinson, who plays her daughter and the main character, is fantastic. They are able to play off of each other really well, which is all the more impressive considering that this is Robinson’s first comedy.
Robinson is fantastic here and really shines as Vivian, a young girl coming out of her shell and finding power and strength through her actions. Robinson embodies the role of a teenager finding herself in a typical coming of age fashion. Like most Netflix stars, Robinson is much older than her teenage character, though it is not as obvious or egregious as other instances of this, playing the role with the right amount of naivety, wonder, and angst.
Moxie is a good film, it’s fun and lighthearted, but at the same time really packs a punch. It can be emotional and thought-provoking at the best of times, and a little stereotypical at its worst, which is a minor flaw in a well-made teen comedy. Though it is not destroying any pre-established norms or tropes, it is giving its characters, who are oft-overlooked, a voice, and is a progressive and welcome change.
It is also worth noting that Patrick Schwarzenegger is perfectly hateable in his role, as one of the worst examples of privilege and douchebaggery in recent film history. The supporting cast is fantastic both in its performance and in its diversity. With actors like Marcia Gay Harden, Ike Barinholtz, and Clark Gregg rounding out the cast, in what would otherwise be throwaway parts, they bring some additional humor and weight to the roles. Moxie may not be the best film of the year, but its message is one that we all ought to hear and support.
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