For several years now, the MeToo movement has made it possible to free women's voices on the sexual abuse they have suffered and which happens far too frequently. The impact of this movement has been considerable, and more and more filmic works honor it. In this month of International Women's Day, Moxie, adaptation of the eponymous book of the same name and directed by Amy Poehler, is no exception, and tries to talk about feminism and patriarchy preponderant in the school environment.
A teen-movie about feminism…
Vivian, a 16-year-old introverted high school student in Rockport, lives in the United States. She leads a quiet life, living with her mother and always accompanied by her childhood best friend Claudia. However, the arrival of Lucy, a new classmate, will change everything. The teenager has a real awareness and decides to rebel against the prevailing sexism that hovers within her high school. The stage is quickly set. After five minutes of viewing, we learn that each year, a ranking is established by the boys of the establishment to categorize the girls according to degrading physical criteria. This was the beginning of a feminist revolution. That's going to be the trigger for Vivian. At home, she found newspapers honoring women. At the same time, she learns that her mother had a history as an accomplished feminist. It was after this discovery that she anonymously launched into the creation of a feminist magazine called "Moxie" ("courage" in English). She denounces any sexist act taking place in her high school, and each time gives readers instructions to follow to show her approval. "Moxie" is a growing success in the establishment. It is the beginning of the revolt for her and her group of friends, which form a real sisterhood. They are determined to change mentalities. 
… which is sorely lacking in depth…
Talking about feminism, and all its current issues, is a beautiful challenge. But even if the intention is good, and that this film addresses other burning themes such as inequality or harassment, we can still say that it lacks ambition. The themes are addressed on the surface, and the narrative does not fully grasp the issues. We fly over the whole to show that we are approaching the subject and that it is important to portray it in the story, but it does not go further. Everything seems far too superficial and abstract. The scenario is not stunning, some scenes completely serve the story by lacking lightness. Attempts at humor are numerous, but unfortunately do not succeed. Even if the irony put in place is meant to denounce, especially with the representation of a wait-and-see and passive teaching staff, it does not work on screen. Simplicity prevails, and this is a shame since it is impossible to completely hang with the story. The narrative construction tarnishes feminism: it does not push us to question this abnormal societal problem. 
… Led by unconvincing characters
The characters do not have a lot of material. They give the impression of being present to ensure diversity and diversity. Indeed, the cast is composed of black, Latino, disabled or transgender people. Although this representation is positive, we still do not get to know adolescent girls. They are all concerned with feminism, but it is difficult to feel connected to it by their personalities that are too underdeveloped. And when Emma, the cheerleader par excellence, makes a significant and revolting announcement, it's at the very end of the film. With a three-sentence speech, she goes around the subject, and that's it. The theme highlighted deserved to be addressed well before and explored further. The film's heroine, Vivian, played by Hadley Robison (an actress seen in Dr. March's Daughters) often seems lost, and her lack of transparency towards the cause she defends limits the impact she wants to have. She seems to be in conflict with herself, and to have the need to be recognized. A heroine with a more marked character would have been preferable. It would also have been more coherent: she is still the initiator of a feminist movement. We can still emphasize the intention to show that the privileges between white and non-white people are not the same. Moxie will entertain you for an evening. But this film will not go so far as to make you think long and hard about the societal issues it addresses. The script surely lacks complexity and consistency. It's up to you to judge!
Trailer of Moxie, available on Netflix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf34qI1hjKU
