Review of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret: A heartwarming film that will take you back in time

4.5/5

Story
It’s 1970. A young Margaret (11) begins to question everything about her young life after her family moves from New York to a New Jersey suburb. Anxious after facing several life changes, Margaret begins talking to God. As family dynamics and her own body and sense of identity change, how will this affect Margaret and those around her?

Review
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret is another film based on a coming-of-age novel. Last week’s release was Adam Sandler's Netflix film You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, which is an adaptation of Fiona Rosenbloom's novel of the same name. But this adaptation of the middle-grade 1970 novel by Judy Blume Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. is a completely different experience.

Kelly Fremon Craig's film is a sweet throwback to one's preteen years, as you are taken along on a heartwarming year-long adventure in the life of Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson). Margaret’s life changes in 1970 after she returns from summer camp to find out that she is moving from New York to suburban New Jersey with her family.

For Margaret, this means the end of life as she knows it. She has never lived anywhere else and is understandably anxious about starting her life over in a new city. It also means living away from her beloved grandmother, Sylvia, played by the delightful Kathy Bates.

That is the first time that Margaret, who has not been exposed to religion by her Christian mother and Jewish father, has a conversation with God. She asks God to make sure that she doesn’t move and, if she really has to, that New Jersey isn’t terrible. Many of Margaret’s anxieties are laid to rest soon after she moves. Her neighbour Nancy (Elle Graham), who is in her school and class, befriends her and even inducts her into her ‘secret club’, which has two other girls from their class. They discuss everything from boys to kissing, bras, and periods.

Margaret speaks to God about all of this: eagerly waiting to kiss a boy, growing her breasts so that she can wear a bra, getting her periods, and more. An assignment in school about religion brings up some difficult questions at home and sets young Margaret on a path to explore God through religion.

Margaret faces some difficult realities, has some experiences that make her question everything, and learns lessons on friendships, love, relationships, religion, and even God. But in the face of adversity, Margaret sees her friends, family, and herself for who they all really are, which helps her grow up.

As Margaret gets ready to go off to summer camp once again, she is older and wiser and has continued her conversation with God, albeit in a different light.

Verdict
This heartwarming tale makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside and will transport you to your teenage years. It will remind you of a time when your life was led by hormones and dominated by the obsession of growing up.

Casting director Melissa Kostenbauder deserves a special nod for doing an excellent job picking the right actors. Abby Ryder Fortson steals the show as Margaret Simon. She’s charming, funny, and endearing in equal measure. Rachel McAdams as her loving and supportive mother Barbara is a treat to watch, as is Kathy Bates. As Sylvia, Margaret’s grandmother, who is also her close friend, Kathy is funny and warm. Even though Benny Safdie has a limited role, he’s likeable as the affable Herb, Margaret’s father.

The film never slows down to bore you and never lags. At the same time, it doesn’t have any loose ends that need tying up. Kelly Fremon Craig’s screenplay is such that you feel like you’re being taken along on a delightful ride into the life of a preteen. And Hans Zimmer’s music makes this experience all the more likeable.

All in all, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. is an enjoyable watch that gets a big thumbs up.