Inspired by her mother’s rebel past and with her eyes opened by a new student to the unacceptable behaviour by the boys at her school, Vivian (Hadley Robinson) creates an anonymous zine called Moxie that leads to a movement for good. 

Moxie is a coming of age story about finding your voice, it is a feminist anthem and it is a warm and comedic look at friendships, first love and parental relationships. It also features a fantastic ensemble cast with some names I suspect we will be seeing a lot more of in the future. 

Vivian and best friend Claudia (Lauren Tsai) have just started eleventh grade, which for us in the UK is the first year of college. They are looking forward to university and want to keep their heads down so they do not draw the wrath of the football teams antics. That is until Lucy (Alycia Pascual-Pena) joins the school and points out that they should be able to keep their heads high and not be treated that way. What follows is an incisive look at the sort of micro aggressions and insidious behaviours that go unchecked in a patriarchal society and the friendship and bonds created by the girls in the movement against it. 

Amy Poehler, who also plays Vivian’s mum does a fantastic job here as director and mostly succeeds in delivering a message without being heavy handed. There is balance as well with Principal Shelly (Marcia Gay Harden) enabling the behaviour by simply wanting it to go away and fellow class mate Seth (Nico Hiraga) acting as an ally. She is also superb at capturing the frisson of first love. 

Robinson, Pascual-Pena and Hiraga all look like up and coming actors to keep your eyes on and have magnetic chemistry and presence. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Moxie.