Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret: Film Review
The much-anticipated movie adaptation of Judy Blume‘s beloved 1970 novel, Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, has finally arrived and it is well worth the wait.
The film follows the life of 11-year-old Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) after her parents Barbara (Rachel McAdams) and Herb (Benny Safdie) relocate the family from New York City to suburban New Jersey in 1970.
When they move in, Margaret immediately makes friends with Nancy (Elle Graham) from down the road and is invited to become a part of her inner circle alongside Janie (Amari Alexis Price) and Gretchen (Katherine Kupferer). While Margaret is happy to have new friends, she isn’t able to be her true self. Is the mean-spirited and bossy Nancy who she really wants to be friends with? Equally, the film explores Margaret’s relationship with religion as the daughter of a Jew and a Christian.
I had high hopes for this film knowing that it was in the very capable hands of Kelly Fremon Craig, who directed The Edge of Seventeen, and she did not disappoint. I wish this wonderful coming-of-age story existed when I was a young teen worrying about puberty, getting my period and if I was the only one who hadn’t kissed a boy yet. It perfectly captures the angst, anxiousness and awkwardness of not knowing who you are, what you believe in and what friends are good for you and it manages to do so in a way that is funny and heartfelt in equal measure.
This is Margaret’s movie but the film fleshes Barbara out into a full person too – she is not just the mum character. Barbara gives up her job and her artwork to be a full-time mum before the move, so she is also trying to figure out who she is in this new town. She tries to fit in with the prim and proper PTA mums at school when she’s more relaxed, cool and artsy. I loved her marriage to Herb too – they flirt, they’re clearly still into each other and they work as a team.
The film excels when the four girls are together talking about boys, learning about the reproductive organs in a book or doing exercises to increase their busts. I also really enjoyed Margaret’s private chats with God about her wishes and watching what she gets up to alone in her room (those are so relatable). Fortson is so endearing and she captures the innocence and naivete of Margaret as well as her mean and moody side.
McAdams is perfect as Barbara – she seems like the coolest, most understanding mum in the world. Kathy Bates also stands out as her mother-in-law Sylvia, a rich entitled woman who wants Margaret to be a Jew. Graham, Price and Kupferer were all hilarious as the friends, but Graham’s Nancy in particular is very ballsy for her age.
I really urge everyone to check out and support this film because it is the most glorious, funny, tender and realistic coming-of-age film I’ve seen in years.
In cinemas from Friday 19th May