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Are you there God? It's me, Margaret offers sweet moments and laughter- character are sharing stories and laughing

Kathy Bates as Sylvia Simon and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret Simon in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Photo Credit: Dana Hawley

A coming-of-age film: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

Be swept away by the charming youth performances and amusing storylines

Fans of longtime female-centric writer Judy Blume will relish this true-to-book film adaptation of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Even those with no Blume background will be swept away by the charming youth performances and amusing storylines that post-pubescent women of all ages will recognize, from a position of hindsight, with fond memory.

Margaret standing nervously next to her mom

Credit: Dana Hawley

Margaret, our trusty heroine

Margaret, portrayed with natural, captivating charm by a then-13-year-old actress Abby Ryder Fortson, is like most sixth-graders: discovering the incredible fun of female friendships and the terrifying unknown of boys, sexual yearnings and “her changing body”. After returning from summer camp, her parents – Barbara (Rachel McAdams) and Herb (Benny Safdie) – announce that they are moving out of NYC and into the dreaded suburbs of New Jersey.

Upon landing in the new neighborhood, Margaret promptly accumulates a girl gang of school friends led by the indomitable Nancy (Elle Graham). They hold “secret” meetings with typically juvenile rules: wear a bra, announce current boy crushes in the Boy Book, don’t lie about it and the first to get her period has to relay the experience to the others. As she has the most revelatory year of her life, Margaret also discovers the sticky nature of growing up and learns the inevitable truth that, like her, everyone is simply doing the best they can.

Girls in a line kicking their feet together.

Credit: Dana Hawley

I must, I must, I must increase my bust!

Faced with fervent book banning across the country when it was released in 1970, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” thankfully does not shy away from its frank, refreshing portrayal of issues developing young women want addressing. Writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig does a masterful job of translating Judy Blume’s uproarious situations onto the screen, simultaneously modern in attitude and timeless in nature. Though the film is set in the 70s, it doesn’t exclude teenagers in this day and age who can wholly relate to the situations and feelings the protagonist encounters.

The explicit and extensive menstrual talk was what many parents found offensive about the original material, but it actually gives the property its edge, replicating what real 12-year-olds think and talk about. The girls blush at bra shopping, but joke behind closed doors about arm exercises that will supposedly enhance their breasts. The film never shies away from such important topics so prevalent to young people. It also never exploits their innocence or views their naivete through a condescending adult lens.

Margaret and her family hugging

Photo Credit: Dana Hawley

God and religion

If the title doesn’t give itself away, Margaret, as part of her coming-of-age odyssey, is preoccupied with religion. Her mother was raised Christian and her father was raised Jewish. Her mother’s parents have never been in Margaret’s life because they can’t come to terms with interreligious marriage, and her father’s mother Sylvia (Kathy Bates), while a positive force in the young girl’s childhood, is overbearing and fixated on forcing Margaret’s Jewish identity to the forefront.

On the cusp of young adulthood, Margaret begins her own journey to discovering religion’s place in her life by attending Temple and various Christian services. She never quite finds her place in any institution. Instead, she turns to God frequently throughout this year of trials and tribulations, poising him as both a confidante and a potential benefactor.

The various religious beliefs are lightly touched upon without any real detail. It’s tastefully done to show her earnest intention in trying to connect with the various Houses of God. With religion, however, there are differing views on what is right for each family, so parents should be aware it is a large part of the film, and Margaret is, ultimately, given the space and permission to explore religion on her own.

Girl Power

What ultimately drives this adaptation is the strong performances by the young actors who take on the comedic scenes as handily as they do the dramatic ones. For young viewers just starting on their journey of womanhood, it is an empowering film that assures them feeling awkward or embarrassed is very much a right of passage. Margaret, by the film’s end, has realized that even the girl in the class who matured faster than everyone else has her own qualms because breasts and getting your period do not equate to happiness.

This isn’t to say that boys and men can’t enjoy “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” because it is an incredibly charming watch. It simply gears its story so heavily to the young female experience that its prime audience is certainly women of any age. You’ll be hard-pressed to leave the theater without a tear or a smile; “Are You There God?” is an instant classic.

Good to know

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic material involving sexual education and some suggestive material

Recommended Age: 12+

Runtime: 105 minutes

Difficult concepts or emotions: Oh there are many in the film as you would expect from a coming-of-age story, but they shouldn’t be an issue for viewers of the appropriate age. Both women’s and men’s bodies are frequently discussed (detailed explanations of female parts, along with a textbook image of an anatomical penis). The girls talk constantly about wanting to start their periods; blood is obviously never explicitly shown and the “big moment” is more of an emotional revelation than a physical one. Different religions are discussed, though none in a bad light. At one point, Margaret says that she doesn’t believe in God at all, which may offend some, but, again, it’s part of her emotional unraveling.

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About the Author

Candice McMillan

Candice McMillan has been writing about film for more than 10 years. Since becoming a mom to her two daughters, she’s had to hang up her affinity for horror films, catering to the two smallest critics who prefer shows about rescue dogs and a family of pigs. Candice has degrees in journalism and film critical studies from USC, and her favorite children’s film is a toss-up between “Anastasia” and “A Goofy Movie.”