While the 2024Borderlandsmovie may not have lived up to expectations, nobody can blame the stellar cast, and Gina Gershon stands out for her portrayal of Mad Moxxi. The film is based on the action RPG first-person shooterBorderlandsvideo game seriesof the same name that sees the player as a “Vault Hunter”, searching for a vault of alien riches on the dangerous planet of Pandora. In the first game, Moxxi is an NPC and the introduced as the hostess of the Underdome’s Colosseum matches.
Gershon’s Mad Moxxi doesn’t play a large part in the movie’s plot, but the actress fits right in withtheBorderlandscastas a formidable character not to be trifled with. The film was dismissed as being another unnecessary video adaptation, butBorderlandssets itself apart in that it’s chock-full of tough, layered female characters. Cate Blanchett leads the ensemble as bounty hunter Lilith, and she’s joined by Ariana Greenblatt’s Tiny Tina and Jamie Lee Curtis' Dr. Patricia Tannis, all giving stellar performances. And while Gershon could have used more screen time, she does a lot with what she’s given.
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Since Her Early Career, Gershon Has Played Ambitious Women With A Dark Side
Gina Gershon has been acting for almost 40 years, and she has established herself as a versatile actress throughout her storied career, appearing in over 150 productions. Her film debut was in John Hughes' iconic 1986 moviePretty in Pinkas Trombley, one of Benny Hanson’s minions. This bit part led to more sizable roles for Gershon, including in 1988’sCocktail, where she played the seductive and ambitious Coral. Both roles showcased Gershon’s natural ability to play characters who aren’t afraid to tap into their dark side to get what they want, much like Mad Moxxi.
In recent years, Gershon has become known for her TV work. She had a recurring role onRiverdaleasGladys Jones, Jughead’s troubled mother, who returns to the titular town with a dark agenda involving drug dealing. Her complex character added tension to the storyline as she navigated family drama and criminal activities. InNew Amsterdam, Gershon played Jeanie Bloom, Max Goodwin’s pragmatic and driven colleague, who helps address the challenges faced by the hospital. Like her TV characters, Gershon captures Mad Moxxi’s bold ambition inBorderlands— this time with a more flamboyant persona in a wild fantasy setting.
Mad Moxxi has been a central figure in theBorderlandsfranchise, appearing in various games and expansions, first as an NPC mission provider and eventually playing a major role inBorderlands: The Pre-Sequel. A hostess and bar owner, Mad Moxxi is known for herstriking appearance, unapologetically high sex drive, and her ability to manipulate anyone and everyonein the chaotic world of Pandora.
Bar owner in the town of Sanctuary
2009
Host of the “Moxxi’s Underdome Riot”
2012
Bar owner and mission giver
2019
Returns as a playable character in DLC
2014
Tales from the Borderlands(2014-2015)
Doesn’t appear, but her voice is overheard speaking to Zer0
Gershon nails Mad Moxxi’s signature sultry demeanor and sharp wit while also chewing up the scenery by leaning into theBorderlandscharacter’s puppetmaster tendencies. While it’sunknown ifBorderlands 2will happen given the backlash, if the first movie does spawn a movie franchise, hopefully, like the video games, Gina Gershon’s Mad Moxxi will get a more substantial role.
Borderlands
Cast
Based on the video game franchise, Borderlands is a sci-fi action-comedy film that follows Cate Blanchett as Lilith, a treasure hunter who returns to her home planet, Pandora, to find a tycoon’s missing daughter. Together with a group of unlikely allies, such as a soldier, a teenaged demolitions expert, a wise-cracking robot, and an eccentric scientist, the group will work together to save the girl - all while learning to deal with each other’s unyielding quirks.
