Girlfight
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Thought-provoking boxing drama has lots of profanity.

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Girlfight
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What's the Story?
High school senior Diana (Michelle Rodriguez) gets in trouble for fighting at school one too many times, and if she doesn't turn things around she'll be expelled. Running an errand, she enters a boxing gym and is immediately drawn to the sport. Behind her father's back she starts training in earnest and finds that the better she gets at boxing, the better she's able to cope with everything else going on in her life. She starts to fall for fellow hopeful Adrian, but can their relationship survive when they have to get into the ring against each other?
Is It Any Good?
Yes, GIRLFIGHT has plenty of boxing, but it's actually a thought-provoking character study. Teens looking for a lot of action will be rewarded instead with a look at a young woman turning her life around, finding a positive outlet emotionally and physically, blazing a trail in a male-dominated sport, and learning that different and unexpected paths are open for her. Michelle Rodriguez has tremendous magnetism as Diana, a character who's a little hard to like, very hard to get to know, and impossible not to admire.
Director and writer Karyn Kusama crafts a documentary-like neutrality with a somber, quiet mood that's realistic without being gratuitously gritty. Kusama doesn't solve all Diana's problems for us, either, and teens will find themselves pondering her future long after the movie is over.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about women participating in male-dominated sports such as boxing. Is it OK for women to fight men, or should matches keep the sexes separate? Why? Are there any sports women shouldn't participate in at all? Why not?
What do you think will become of Diana? Will she become a successful boxer, maybe even a pro? What obstacles will she still have to overcome?
Did you know very much about boxing before you saw this movie? Did it seem realistic? Does knowing more about the sport change your opinion about it?
Movie Details
- In theaters: January 22, 2000
- On DVD or streaming: March 27, 2001
- Cast: Michelle Rodriguez, Jaime Tirelli, Paul Calderon
- Director: Karyn Kusama
- Inclusion Information: Latinx actors
- Studios: Green/Renzi, Independent Film Channel (IFC)
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts, Brothers and Sisters, Great Girl Role Models, High School
- Run time: 110 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: Language
- Last updated: February 26, 2022
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