Sam's feminine interests trigger bullying from peers and adults, including Palmer's own friends, which drives key conflicts and forces Palmer to confront his discomfort. This acceptance arc forms a major emotional driver alongside the custody battle and Palmer's personal growth, with scenes like Sam returning home with smeared makeup and Palmer defending him explicitly tying the narrative to challenging traditional masculinity and gender norms.

The gender-nonconforming child's preferences and resulting social friction occupy a central place in the premise rather than appearing as incidental background. Director statements emphasize challenging categorization of children, aligning with the film's explicit themes of acceptance for non-traditional gender expression and critique of macho small-town attitudes. Conservative critiques have labeled the project as promoting gender-bending or PC messaging, reflecting audience reception signals that highlight the ideological framing. These elements combine to produce a moderate woke score because the messaging is foundational to character development and emotional stakes yet remains contained within a conventional redemption story without dominating every plot thread.