Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inspiring look at a life of young woman with a disability.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Right Footed
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?
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
- On DVD or streaming : November 11, 2016
- Cast : Jessica Cox
- Director : Nick Spark
- Studio : Brainstorm Media
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Activism
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Curiosity , Gratitude , Perseverance
- Run time : 82 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
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
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate