Tween-girl bible “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.,” written by Judy Blume, is about an 11-year-old girl praying to God to speed up the maturation process. Could she please-please-please have something (other than socks) to fill out the training bra? And also a reason to actually use the surreptitiously, piggy-bank-purchased, menstruation pads? Already? Please?
The book has provided solace for girls ever since 1970. Its enduring power is due to its innocent, hormonally beset but kindhearted and truth-seeking young protagonist, caught in the turbulence of early adolescence.
When we meet her, she’s also in the midst of a self-imposed, religious version of a mini-mountaineering solo expedition—to climb high enough to know God. Except with no route plan!
The Move!
(L–R) Sylvia Simon (Kathy Bates), Barbara Simon (Rachel McAdams), Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson), and Herb Simon (Benny Safdie), in “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” (Dana Hawley/Lionsgate)
Sixth-grader Margaret (the delightful Abby Ryder Fortson, already a seasoned vet of the Marvel Cinematic Universe) moves from Manhattan to New Jersey in the early 1970s, with her parents Barbara (Rachel McAdams) and Herb (Benny Safdie).
Just having to go to a new school can be enough to start any nonreligiously raised child to start spontaneously seeking a relationship with God. Margaret, however, faces a triple whammy: She falls in with a group of girls who strongly feel the need to ditch girlhood and acquire some boy-attracting, er … stuff, and Margaret’s family leaves her dear grandmother (Kathy Bates) behind, in the city.
Sylvia Simon (Kathy Bates) and Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson) have a grandma and grandaughter sleepover, in “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” (Dana Hawley/Lionsgate)
And so Margaret, in her bedroom, voices the oft-recurring line of the book and movie: “Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret.,” along with some observations and various forms of fervent pleas and petitioning. For boobs and such.
New Friends
(L–R) Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson), Janie Loomis (Amari Alexis Price), Nancy Wheeler (Elle Graham), and Gretchen Potter (Katherine Mallen Kupferer), in “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” (Dana Hawley/Lionsgate)
As mentioned, Margaret’s immediately recruited into a new friend group by little charismatic queen-bee neighbor Nancy (Elle Graham). Nancy is highly aware (and vocal) about the slightly advanced state of her, er, mammalian protuberances—and of boys. Margaret now feels immense pressure to catch up, especially since she soon develops a secret crush on a skinny, blond-Afro-wearing buddy of Nancy’s brother.
Perceptions begin to crumble, and Margaret slowly starts to form her own opinions and escape from under Nancy’s tiny thumb. Margaret had been instructed to ostracize the class “slut”—a girl who (for reasons unbeknownst to herself) had become shunned due to developing an impressive bust earlier than the rest of the girls and becoming therefore, naturally, the scapegoat of their jealous projections. Margaret befriends her.
Similar to the now classic TV show “Freaks and Geeks,” a game of “Two Minutes in Heaven” at one point pairs Margaret with Nancy’s crush, and Margaret develops a fleeting infatuation, before the preening boy (Zack Brooks) reveals himself to be just the type of mean-boy that Nancy would see herself reflected in, and be attracted to. Learning experiences abound! It’s in these types of vignettes that “Margaret” excels—when the societal and social embarrassments that might be considered exclusive to 50 years ago reveal their timelessness.
More on ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.’
Margaret, of course, begins to wonder about her cultural and religious identity. Dad’s Jewish; mom’s a lapsed Christian, grandma is decidedly Jewish, but grandparents on mom’s side appear to be ... Nazis? So is Margaret Jewish?
Religiously rudderless, it’s Margaret’s search for God that I daresay speaks to the book’s loyal following more deeply than all the adolescent shenanigans, although adolescence is of course a potent niche unto itself. Therefore, the entire, confusing mix of religion and puberty continues to speak to new generations of young girls (although the religion portion of the film feels slightly contrived).
Mom Barbara Simon (Rachel McAdams) and daughter Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson), in “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” (Dana Hawley/Lionsgate)
Overall
Abby Ryder Fortson’s performance is raw and expressive without becoming overwrought. Rachel McAdams as artsy mom Barbara paints a compelling picture of the type of woman of that era who chose love over religious family obligations, thereby reaping decades of familial rejection. Her portrayal is a serious version of Mila Kunis’s character in “Bad Moms.” Both characters rebel at overextending themselves due to local PTA queen tyranny.
Writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig’s last film, the spot-on dramedy “The Edge of Seventeen” actually functions as a companion piece to “Margaret.” Fremon Craig was definitely the right director for the job.
“Margaret” is so much more than a coming-of-age story for children, and Fremon Craig delivers a film of disarming vulnerability, complexity, empathy, and humor. Margaret’s world may be small, but Fremon Craig’s faithful, sweet-but-never-cloying adaptation makes Margaret’s journey to God and adolescence accessible to all ages, but mostly for girls in need of encouragement via a conspiratorial giggle. Early adolescence is a trial, but “Margaret” reminds us that it can be a fun adventure, too.
Movie poster for “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” (Dana Hawley/Lionsgate)
‘Are You There God It’s Me, Margaret.’
Director: Kelly Fremon Craig
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Abby Ryder Fortson, Kathy Bates, Benny Safdie, Amari Alexis Price, Elle Graham, Katherine Mallen Kupferer
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Release Date: April 28, 2023
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Mark Jackson is the chief film critic for The Epoch Times. In addition to the world’s number-one storytelling vehicle—film, he enjoys martial arts, weightlifting, Harley-Davidsons, vision questing, rock-climbing, qigong, oil painting, and human rights activism. Mark earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Williams College, followed by a classical theater training, and has 20 years’ experience as a New York professional actor, working in theater, commercials, and television daytime dramas. He recently narrated the Epoch Times audiobook “How the Specter of Communism is Ruling Our World,” which is available on iTunes and Audible. Mr. Jackson is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic.
