Movie review
February 12, 2021 · 95 min · PG
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Rumble centers on teenage girl Winnie coaching loveable underdog monster Steve to championship victory to save her town's stadium and honor her late father's legacy. The story keeps pushing girl power through Winnie's determination and self-acceptance arc in the male-coded wrestling world. It adapts the source graphic novel by swapping the original male lead to female Winnie. Light greed from the villain champion adds minor background. No political lectures or queer elements appear.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Rumble.
Woke representation / casting
Female lead as coach in monster wrestling world provides noticeable girl power framing; diverse casting for Winnie fits animated fantasy premise without visible mismatch.
Woke political dialogue
No explicit activist or political lines; standard motivational coach talk only.
Identity-driven story themes
Narrative structured around girl's perseverance, legacy, and self-acceptance (using dance talent) in sports coaching role.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Mild greed from champion monster wanting stadium demolition, but generic villain motivation with no modern activist, patriarchy, or systemic framing.
Woke character or canon changes
Loose adaptation from Monster on the Hill graphic novel swaps male protagonist to female Winnie.
Production
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No significant backlash claiming too woke or forced identity politics; controversy evidence is absent.
Creator track record context
Hamish Grieve's family animation background shows no pattern of activist or identity-driven work.
