Being a Rebel Girl Is Harder Than It Looks - The Cut

Mar 03, 2021

Moxie, the new Amy Poehler–directed teen-feminist rom-com (on Netflix March 3), is light on the rom and heavy on the riot grrl.

Despite Vivian’s eagerness to raise her voice, though, it’s not all that clear what Moxie has to say.

In an interview with the New York Times, Poehler checked her privilege and then offered rhetorical gestures similar to her character’s.

“I’m into what Gen Z is selling,” the director said.

“There are a lot of cool conversations that feel inclusive.

Whatever they’re doing, they’re doing it right.”.

The film is filled with similarly disengaged platitudes (break the glass ceiling! Lady power!), which, to be fair, might resonate with newly woke teens or make for great Instagram captions.

It’s worth noting that Moxie’s target demo has plenty of edgier projects ready to stream, like Euphoria, The Hate U Give, Sex Education, The Half of It, Unpregnant, and the forthcoming Generation, that don’t shy away from uncomfortable conversations.

In assembling an inclusive and altruistic clique that actually resembles the class of 2021, Vivian and her friends learn that finding common ground and shoring up solidarity are important first steps to organizing any movement?

But Moxie Girls would demand more from their media?