Moxie Parent Guide

Excited to begin junior year, Vivian and her lifelong best friend Claudia (played by Hadley Robinson and Lauren Tsai) are stunned to learn that the boys in their class have already started ranking the girls based on their sexual desirability and anatomy. Vivian and Claudia are half appalled, half fascinated by the process and it’s only when a new student is labelled with shocking crudity that Vivian has an epiphany, suddenly seeing the rankings for the demeaning and destructive tools they really are.

As Vivian’s perspective broadens, she becomes increasingly dissatisfied with the treatment of girls at her school. Male entitlement, casual sexism, underfunded female sports teams – all spark her ire. Finally, Vivian has had enough and blends rage with art to produce “Moxie”, a zine that she photocopies and distributes in the girls’ washrooms at school. Electrified by the issues Vivian raises in the zine, girls found a Moxie club and set out to expose and eliminate the misogynistic elements in their school culture. But change never comes easily…

Film critics always bring their own biases to a movie and I have to confess that my own background puts me firmly in Camp Vivian. In elementary school, I launched a successful petition to give girls ice time on the school skating rink which was reserved for boys. As Vivian and her friends advocate for funding and recognition for the girls’ soccer team, I can feel my seven year old self cheering them on.

I suspect that most parents and teens will agree with Team Moxie’s overarching goals – a school where girls are treated with respect and equality and where they don’t have to put up with demeaning language, sexual harassment, or sexual assault. Where we are likely to part ways is with tactics. I am fully on side with non-violent protests, but I can’t condone it when Vivian stoops to theft and vandalism – and I suspect adult viewers will agree with me.

Parents are also likely to be less than enthused by some of the movie’s negative content, particularly scenes of adolescent alcohol consumption and intoxication. Teen sexuality also gets screen time with Vivian and her boyfriend making out in his car while discussing future sexual activity. And whether or not you find the scene where they sneak into a funeral home and snuggle in a casket amusing or creepy is a matter of personal taste. Personally, I found it off-putting, but your opinion may differ.

Despite its negative content, Moxie has the potential to act as a great conversation starter with teens. It touches on so many issues – misogyny, sexual harassment, assault, racism, inequality – that parents need to discuss at home. It encourages teens to “be the change”; to act instead of complaining about inequality. And although this movie sometimes feels like it’s checking off a “woke checklist” it still provides a strong story, likeable characters, and plenty of space for big picture thinking. That’s a big plus in a movie aimed at adolescents.