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Parents' Guide to

Right Footed

By Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Inspiring look at a life of young woman with a disability.

Movie NR 2016 82 minutes
Right Footed Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 8+

Based on 2 parent reviews

ReyesFamily0505
ReyesFamily0505 Parent of 12-year-old
November 14, 2021
age 7+

Inspirational!

This is a perfect watch for family movie night. Younger viewers will be bored by the pace, but our 9 and 12 year old loved it. There is nothing objectionable for us at all and we are picky. Another viewer said it shows Jessica putting on her underwear. Not at all. It shows here getting dressed but nothing inappropriate is ever shown. You see more scanty underwear on the shelf at Walmart than here. More than anything, the film is inspiring. Jessica faces many hurdles, but inherits a spirit of endurance from her mother who immigrated from the Philippines. Trigger -- Jessica's mother battles cancer, but it is not a main feature of the film. The death/grieving is not depicted. A brief message of dedication at the end of the movie notes her mother's death date.
mirandamorvant
mirandamorvant Adult
May 16, 2019
age 8+

Great Message

I showed this movie to my 6th graders. It has a great message, and Jessica is a wonderful role model. There was one tiny bit I had to fast forward over: There's a part early on that shows how Jessica gets dressed, and you see her underwear for about two seconds. There is nothing obscene or sexual about it, but since I teach 11 and 12 year olds, I felt that some of them would've been immature about it. I listed the age range as 8+ because some of the topics presented (living with disabilities, being bullied, and her mother's battle with cancer) are a little too complex for children under 8.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

An extraordinary life is chronicled in RIGHT FOOTED. Jessica Cox, born without arms, is the child of a loving family. Bill and Inez Cox are devoted to giving their middle child the support and love she needs to thrive despite her disability. And Jessica does thrive. After the initial anger and confusion, step by step and still at a young age, Jessica becomes independent, active, and confident. She undertakes all that able-bodied kids and teens undertake, and more. Using old photographs, home movies, and personal memories, as well as considerable footage of Jessica in recent years, Nick Spark has created a tribute to a life well-lived; and Jessica Cox is not yet thirty years old. Her determination to earn a black belt in Taekwondo, a pilot's license, and a place for herself amidst her peers are simply the earliest demonstrations of the courage that will later take her to Washington, D.C. to lobby for the disabled, to Ethiopia and the Philippines to inspire other kids, and to the heart of a warm, loving marriage to a man also committed to making a difference.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

How fortunate that the life of Jessica Cox was annotated and recorded, and that director Nick Spark had the passion and talent to bring it to life so that audiences can share her remarkable journey. The Cox family exhibited great foresight in their efforts to film important moments in Jessica's life: her early years of negativity, her first attempts at piloting a plane, her relationship with a remarkable mom, among many others. Then, worthy of commendation are the professionals who followed her blossoming romance with Patrick Chamberlain who would become her husband and partner in their life's work, and who covered her more recent path toward activism, particularly in Ethiopia, Washington, D.C., and the Philippines, where they highlight her considerable achievements in affecting the lives of others with disabilities. Nearly every scene is touched with compassion, sweetness, and admiration for Jessica's triumphs; the later scenes between Jessica and her mother are particularly affecting. A great introduction for the able-bodied to the world of those with disabilities, Right Footed is highly recommended.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the fact that documentary films are meant to entertain, inform, persuade, and/or inspire, sometimes in combination. What do you think the filmmakers intended with Right Footed? What was your strongest take-away from this movie?

  • How did Jessica deal with the setbacks she faced (i.e., her unsuccessful efforts to help pass the UN treaty Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the U.S. and her mother's serious illness)? How did her earlier experiences help prepare her for those difficulties? Can you think of any instances in which adversity was a learning experience for you?

  • What important traits did Jessica exhibit that made her so accessible to kids with disabilities worldwide, even those kids who didn't share a culture or a language?

  • What is "universality?" What did you learn about universality in this movie? Were the kids with disabilities in foreign locales more like Jessica or more like the other kids in their communities?

Movie Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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