Moxie

While having never read the book, the premise of the movie was intriguing. To me, it seemed like the perfect wish fulfillment, a movie about girls fighting back and making waves. Ultimately, I was left feeling a tad empty and like many of the "intersectional" moments in the film were unearned.

Without spoiling the film, I want to say that intersectionality is more than simply including women with various identities. A transgender character is given one line about dead naming, but then isn't given any sort of character arc. Two characters are revealed to be LGBTQ+ in a single kissing scene, but we don't see them really speak to each other the rest of the movie? My cynical side believes this was done so the movie could be shown in more countries by editing out these moments. Much space is given to the main character and her journey with feminism, boys, and her family, which I think was a mistake. There were really fascinating characters that could have built a fantastic, intersectional ensemble cast. Give this cast a plot that investigates the nuanced, experienced journeys of feminine people! Instead we're given throw away lines about gender, disability, ethnicity, race that feel like a screenwriter checking off boxes. Only the character with a mobility disability is ever actually funny with her quips at able-bodied extras.

Despite my qualms with the story we were given, this is a well directed movie with great performances. Only in a few scenes did the absurdity of the plot get in the way of believability (the principal knowing dismisses a few things that at most high schools would have resulted in at least an investigation). I won't watch again but I'm glad this movie exists for today's high schoolers as it portrays a positive representation of a high school cishet relationship, friendship among girls, and (of course) feminism.

It's a good movie. Well made. Well acted. But because it's about the feminism and the issues women face every day a bunch of males will be severely triggered.

Ignore any review that uses phrases like "get woke, go broke" or complain about how men are portrayed.

This is very much on the nose in its messaging, and there are a lot of more complex ways that this subject matter could be explored. The overt and straightforward way that this tackles extremely complex subject matters will definitely not work for some people. But I think the film is definitely aware of this fact, and instead tries to create a more upbeat and simple portrayal of feminism, and in that regard I think it works well. Amy Poehler's direction is solid, the performances are good and the first two acts in particular are pretty enjoyable. I do think the focus should have been more on some of the side characters, who all things considered were much more interesting, but that doesn't mean that the lead character's arc wasn't pretty strong. It is a bit too long for its own good, and again oversimplifies a complicated topic, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that I had a smile on my face when the credits started to roll. Overall, it's an uplifting and enjoyable if flawed film, and I'd definitely recommend it.

There's something said in the movie that summarizes this movie perfectly: We have made a lot of mistakes, but I'm really glad we did it. Yeah, I butchered the quote, but I thought it fitted well. I really liked what this movie tries to say. Yes, it makes some mistakes. The third act is a bit messy. It kinda feels like it completely forgot what it was trying to say, but picked it up again after a while. It also is a bit awkward with the way the teens speak. I'm a teen myself and I have never heard someone say: 'That's rad!' But I have to admit, it was really nice to see these girls stand up for themselves. The 'villain' of the movie is a bit too much in my opinion, but there are people in this world like him. There are human being who behave like that, and it's really uplifting to see the girls unit. I actually stood up at the end speech because I felt what these girls have been trough. The movie is really cleverly written, and it makes it so that we really start to care for a girl that we don't know. I just leave this movie with a very positive feeling and I hope there are teens out there who will feel inspired.

This movie was very eye opening. As a straight man we need to do better by the women in our society. Some of the reviews here are absolutely disgusting, and made by little men that think women's equality is a threat to them. They're afraid of no longer being able to mistreat women.