"Moxie" (2021) | Sam Gall Movie Review Issue #172 Gem Mint 10

"Moxie" (2021)

Director: Amy Poehler

Writer: Jennifer Mathieu (novel), Tamara Chestna, Dylan Meyer

Starring: Hadley Robinson, Lauren Tsai, Alycia Pascual-Pena, Nico Hiraga, Amy Poehler, Clark Gregg, Ike Barinholtz, Sabrina Haskett, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Anjelika Washington, Sydney Park, Emily Hopper, Josie Totah, Marcia Gay Harden, Joshua Walker

Rated: PG-13 for thematic elements, strong language and sexual material, and some teen drinking

Runtime: 1h 51m

Genre: Comedy | Drama | Music

Country: United States

Language: English

Available on: Various VOD platforms / Netflix

"Inspired by her mom's rebellious past and a confident new friend, a shy 16-year-old publishes an anonymous zine calling out sexism at her school."

You might like this if you like: Comedies, Dramas, Amy Poehler, Jennifer Mathieu, Hadley Robinson, Lauren Tsai, Alycia Pascual-Pena, Nico Hiraga, Clark Gregg, Ike Barinholtz, Sabrina Haskett, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Anjelika Washington, Sydney Park, Emily Hopper, Josie Totah, Marcia Gay Harden, Joshua Walker

Amy Poehler (left) & Hadley Robinson (right) in 'Moxie' (2021)

Thanks to my fiancée Rachel for showing me this one.

We’re both massive Amy Poehler fans so getting her alone in a movie was the start of the sell for sure, but seeing it was her directorial debut just made it all the more intriguing.

I avoided the trailer so I went in pretty dark, but was met with something so powerful and beautiful.

Hadley Robinson (left) & Alycia Pascual-Pena (right) in 'Moxie' (2021)

I wasn’t familiar with any of the leading high school aged characters, just Ike Barinholtz who I love that plays the teacher, but every single new face marked something special in me that I’ll remember for years to come.

Hadley Robinson (left) & Nico Hiraga (right) in 'Moxie' (2021)

Hadley Robinson was so inspiring, Amy Poehler’s character of course too, but it’s full of all the energy, confidence and strength I wished I had in my high school years. Whether it was to address problems like race up front or call out something I felt was wrong. I wish I had this film growing up. Robinson carries the film so well, especially when seeing her in scenes next to Poehler.

Alycia Pascual-Pena was brilliant. Another new face for me, alongside Nico Hiraga and Lauren Tsai who I of course gravitated to for the Asian representation, but regardless were all just beautiful and inspiring characters with amazing performances by all involved. Always love me some Clark Gregg!

Hadley Robinson in 'Moxie' (2021)

The world needs this movie, not just high school. I hope more people get to see this film. It definitely ranks in my top of the year, maybe more, but I do wish for more people to check out this film. It’s for women, for people of color, for everyone.

Written by Sam Gall on Dec 21, 2021

CGC Grading: Gem Mint 10.0

"Well-attuned to the blind spots and sanctimony of the well-meaning, it's a worthwhile thought and conversation-starter for anyone with teenagers." - Brad Newsome, Sydney Morning Herald

"Director Amy Poehler's winsome, upbeat energy prevents Moxie from being too transgressive, but there's an earnestness to their teenage rebellion that is ultimately endearing." - Audrey Fox, We Live Entertainment

"Moxie is a great starter-feminist film for teens, but your mileage may vary the older you get." - Cate Young, Thirty, Flirty + Film

"There is some utility in the film, especially for young audiences or budding activists." - Cristina Escobar, Tasteful Rude

Official Trailer:

Behind the Scenes:

#MovieReview #Moxie #Netflix #AmyPoehler #HadleyRobinson #LaurenTsai #AlyciaPascualPena #NicoHiraga #IkeBarinholtz #ClarkGregg