Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023) Review!!

Synopsis – When her family moves from the city to the suburbs, 11-year-old Margaret navigates new friends, feelings, and the beginning of adolescence.

My Take – Though I have never crossed paths with anything written by author Judy Blume, as a reader I have been aware of the acclaim and dedicated fan following her works has received over the decades. But being a man in his 30s, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to indulge myself in cinema that captured the story of a 11-year-old marching toward puberty and facing religious conflicts.

But in the hands of Kelly Fremon Craig, who earlier wrote and directed the excellent The Edge of Seventeen (2016), the film adaptation of Blume‘s classic 1970 bestseller manages to transcend any genre bias one might bring to it. Resulting in a delightful coming-of-age comedy that is also easily one of the best films of the year so far.

Director Craig‘s talented storytelling, combined with outstanding performances from the talented cast, makes this film a must-watch for audiences of all ages. As it effortlessly captures the essence of adolescence, providing a humorous and thought-provoking exploration of religious identity and acceptance in the suburbs of New Jersey.

Yes, it doesn’t reach quite the heights of The Edge of Seventeen, yet it’s still never less than entertaining, offering a nostalgic look back at 1970 with both grace and dignity.

Set in 1970, the story follows Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson), an eleven-year-old sixth-grader who returns home from summer camp to learn that she is moving from New York City to a New Jersey suburb with her parents, Barbara (Rachel McAdams) and Herb (Benny Safdie). Margaret is of course devastated as she will have to leave her friends, switch schools and never see Grandma Sylvia (Kathy Bates) again.

But Margaret is also a bright and inquisitive girl, and on the brink of puberty she finds herself at a crossroads when her English teacher (Echo Kellum) assigns her a research paper on religion. Sending her on a journey to find answers from big questions about her identity, her faith, and her place in the world.

Running for 106 minutes, with a cleverly crafted script and an ensemble cast of immense talent, the film maintains a brisk pace, offering a heartfelt exploration of puberty, identity, and religious conflicts, all while delivering an ample dose of humor. The film does an excellent job of capturing the awkwardness and excitement of adolescence. Margaret is dealing with all the usual challenges of puberty, but she is also trying to figure out what she believes in and where she belongs.

Director Kelly Fremon Craig‘s screenplay masterfully strikes a balance between humor and depth, utilizing incisive satire to expose the absurdity of religious bias and stereotypes on top of all the awkwardness of puberty. The transition from girl to woman is obviously the major narrative push, but Margaret’s quest to find religion is given equal footing. Margaret wants to feel God in her attempts to find her way, but her trips to various houses of worship only give her more questions. Only in her private conversations with God does she feel him.

The film smartly avoids any grand proclamations, but instead asks questions that an intelligent 11-year-old should ask about God and religion. Within this comedic framework, the film conveys poignant messages about tolerance, empathy, and the importance of embracing one’s individuality, all while providing genuine moments of self-discovery and personal growth.

Much of the film’s energy comes from Margaret and her group of friends Nancy (Elle Graham), Janie (Amari Alexis Price), and Gretchen (Katherine Malen Kupferer) as they all share the same anxieties and desires. The foursome share a secret group complete with boy books for their crushes, a requirement to wear a bra, and an adorably naïve exercise chant to increase their bust size.

For a film with a child protagonist, this scenes are backed by a surprising amount of well-written situational humor. The climax too warmed my heart and made me realize how seamlessly and subtly the film underlined its feel-good nature.

Of course, it helps that Abby Ryder Fortson is so appealing and wonderful in the lead part and plays it with a realism that looks as if she were always Margaret. Giving one of the most complex, emotionally wrought, and layered performances I’ve ever seen from a young performer. Not only does Fortson deliver in every way, she lives and breathes Margaret inside and out. Her vulnerability, confidence, and emotional intelligence never crosses over the line to precocious annoyance and her leading work is the key to the success of the film.

As the parents, Rachel McAdams‘ inherent warmth and wholesome kindness lift her performance into one of her best in her underrated career, while Benny Safdie brings a delightful blend of humor and warmth to his role. As always, Kathy Bates manages to steal each scene she appears in. In supporting roles, Echo Kellum, Amari Alexis Price, Katherine Malen Kupferer and Elle Graham are also good. On the whole, ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’ is a truly delightful coming of age drama that is throughout funny and heartwarming.