Adults can figure out whether this funny-but-imperfect film rings their bell, but as a go-girl comedy for teens, Chick Fight doesn't quite make weight. When you're creating a (supposed) female-empowerment film, you can't ask women to lace up the gloves and then also make them the punchline. "Learn to fight, stay in the ring, and beat the s--t out of life" is this film's oft-repeated mantra. As a metaphor, it's a cheer line: Yes! But then the concept gets KO'd. First, there's the message's literal execution, earnestly stating that pummeling another person is therapeutic. Things get further confused by making female fighters a joke. And then there's the demeaning title, which drums up stereotypes of women at each other's throats. While stating that women put on gloves to let off steam or settle a beef ("we fight it out, then we hug it out"), primary characters Anna and Olivia (Bella Thorne) are squabbling about a man (sigh).

The issue could be that men made this film about women. At moments, the lack of an authentic voice is felt. For example, Anna has taken a vow of chastity, but when a male doctor (Kevin Connolly) makes a lewd overture to her, she jumps on him, and they have sex in a hospital broom closet. Is it funny? To a few. Is it straight male fantasy? More likely. Does it completely sell out Anna and her values and beliefs? Absolutely. The raunchy humor doesn't ring true either -- it's not Bridesmaids, it's Beavis and Butthead. It could be that women aren't so much the audience here as the packaging -- after all, who does child-actress-turned-erotica-provacateur Thorne wearing tight, revealing fight gear really appeal to?