
Movie review
March 13, 2020 · 101 min · PG-13
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Two teenage cousins from rural Pennsylvania travel by bus to New York City after one discovers an unintended pregnancy and learns she needs parental consent for an abortion at home. The film follows their low-key journey through clinics, hostels, and city streets in a naturalistic, understated style focused on the practical hurdles they face. Female bodily autonomy and cousin solidarity drive the story engine, with visible emphasis on patriarchal pressures, male harassment, and systemic barriers like restrictive laws and misleading crisis pregnancy centers.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Never Rarely Sometimes Always.
Woke representation / casting
Casting fits the setting with no forced diversity or identity signaling.
Woke political dialogue
Sparse explicit ideological dialogue; story relies on visual and procedural storytelling.
Identity-driven story themes
Identity-driven story themes center on female reproductive autonomy and sisterhood as the narrative driver.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Portrays restrictive abortion laws, deceptive crisis pregnancy centers, and patriarchal family/society as oppressive forces in a modern activist lens.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Moderate conservative backlash calling it pro-abortion propaganda; no widespread social-media storm.
Creator track record context
Director has a track record of projects exploring teen sexuality, female hardships, and gender issues.
Production