Review: Andrew Carson (Trever O'Brien) is a red hot motocross rider, and he's just about to enter a championship race that might net him a corporate sponsorship when he breaks his leg. So his twin sister Andrea (Alana Austin) decides to impersonate him, so that he won't miss out on his big chance. When Andrea begins training with rival Dean Talon (Riley Smith), she gets more than she bargained for, and not everything goes according to plan.
Motocrossed is another Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) that I adored in my childhood. Extreme sports were cool and DCOMs were cool, so by proxy, my younger self thought this movie was pretty cool, too. Even watching it now, as is the case with many of these films that I watched time and time again throughout my childhood, I can't help but get a strong sense of nostalgia for a much simpler time. Of all the DCOMs, I have to say, this one is my favorite. It has a simple story with fun characters, tons of motocross racing action, and a healthy dose of comedy to boot. My sister and I still frequently quote this movie even though we are well into adulthood. I hardly know anything about motocross racing, but Alana Austin taught me that nail polish reduces arm pump. Who knew? The overall message here is to inspire young girls to be ambitious, showing them that they can do anything that a man can do, such as excel in an extreme sport. Furthermore, the males in this movie bend gender roles when they begin to use Andrea's nail polish technique, thinking that they'll gain a competitive edge. I think all of this is an important message for young kids regardless of gender, not just in sports but in life. Be open minded and strive for inclusiveness. I've played hockey, a sport often associated with masculinity, with and against some incredible female athletes who are Olympic gold medalists and NCAA National Champions. Motocrossed plays just a small role in perpetuating this inclusiveness, but that is ultimately a good thing. And at the end of the day, it's a pretty fun, entertaining flick!
Fun Fact: Motocrossed is a modern-day interpretation of William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." It served as later inspiration for She's the Man (2006), starring Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum, which heavily borrows elements from the movie. These elements include setting the film in high school with teenagers, using a sport as the catalyst for the plot, and having the main character disguise herself as her twin brother.