If you were a kid in the early aughts, chances are you’re already familiar with Crossroads. Written by Shonda Rhimes, this coming-of-age movie follows three childhood friends (Britney Spears, Zoe Saldaña, Taryn Manning) as they embark on a road trip that will change them for good.
Like much of Rhimes’ other work, the story takes on taboo topics with a sense of humor and care that makes it feel both entertaining and nuanced. The journey explores what it means to be on the cusp of adulthood; Spears’ song, “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman” underscores the thesis of the film.
Crossroads first premiered in 2002 and is available to stream on Netflix in the US!
Set in a small Georgia town, the film begins with three childhood friends who’ve grown in vastly different directions over the course of high school. Lucy (Spears) is the valedictorian, Kit (Saldaña) is the effortlessly cool prom queen, and Mimi (Manning) is the pregnant outcast. Though they’re in different social circles, the trio meets up on the night of their graduation to dig up a box they buried as children with their hopes and dreams stored inside of it.
The friends realize they all have aspirations and questions that need to be answered beyond their sheltered lives. This prompts them to go on a cross-country pilgrimage with the help of Mimi’s friend Ben, who offers to drive.
On their journey, the women are forced to confront old wounds as well as challenge their preconceived notions about each other. The heartfelt film puts girlhood at the forefront, reminding us all that we get by with a little help from our friends.
The film begins in a small town in Georgia. During the road trip, the group stops in rural Alabama; Tucson, Arizona (where Lucy meets her estranged mother); and Los Angeles, California.
Filming took place in both Los Angeles and Louisiana.
