Motocrossed
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Motocrossed
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Motocrossed is an entertaining Disney TV teen drama about a girl posing as her brother in order to participate in a male-dominated sport. The movie is loosely inspired by the story of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. When Andy (Trevor O'Brien) injures himself in a motorcycle accident, his twin sister, Andi (Alana Austin), pretends to be him in order to enter a motocross race. There is occasional sexist language and several potential romances between teens, but overall the messages and role models are positive. The story shines a light on gender equality with an inspiring, capable, and compassionate female protagonist and a supportive family. Although the storyline is fundamentally about deception, the dishonesty and duplicity is all for the right reasons and far bigger themes include challenging stereotypes, beating the odds, and working as a team.
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What's the Story?
In MOTOCROSSED, when her motocross-riding twin brother Andy has an accident, cheerleader Andi (Alana Austin) offers to replace him in a big competition. But Andi's father, Edward (Timothy Carhart), won't allow it, instead heading to Europe to find another rider for their team. While he's away, Andi -- with the help of the rest of the family -- disguises herself as Andy and secretly races in his place. Finding herself in a male-dominated world, she ends up challenging gender stereotypes as she makes new friends and shows everyone just what she's capable of.
Is It Any Good?
Gender equality takes center stage in this somewhat predictable underdog story that challenges the way boys and girls are expected to behave by debunking sport discrimination and social stereotypes. Motocrossed's young cast turn in good performances (ably backed up by Dawson's Creek's Mary-Margaret Humes) with Austin's cheerleader-turned-motocross rider Andi and her rival-slash-love interest Dean (Riley Smith) enjoying an intriguing chemistry.
While this definitely has the vibe of a retro TV movie from the early 2000s, there's still lots to like, including authentic motocross sequences and engaging teen romance. As you might expect from a story inspired by Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, the concept is solid. Some of the mistaken identity humor is weak and it's certainly a stretch that you might have twins named Andy and Andi. But overall this coming-of-age drama has a good heart, inspiring role models, and plenty of positive messages. If you're into motorcycles, even better.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way Motocrossed challenges gender inequality in sport. Do you think things have improved since the movie was made in 2001? Are boys and girls treated more equally in sport now?
Andi is a really positive role model, showing perseverance, courage, and compassion. Which other characters do you think have positive character strengths and what are they?
The movie is based on a play by William Shakespeare written in the 17th century. Does this surprise you? Why do you think the messages from the original source material remain relevant today? Have you seen any other movies based on the works of Shakespeare?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: February 16, 2001
- Cast: Alana Austin, Riley Smith, Mary-Margaret Humes
- Director: Steve Boyum
- Studio: Disney Channel Original Movies
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Courage, Empathy, Perseverance, Teamwork
- Run time: 110 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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For kids who love positive girl role models
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