‘Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.’ Review – An Endearing Adaptation Of A Much Beloved Coming-Of-Age Novel

Judy Blume’s novels have guided generations and generations of young adults through the painful, awkward, and uncomfortable years of growing up and discovering themselves. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret is an adaptation of one of Blume’s most beloved novels. It follows one young girl’s ongoing conversations with God as she navigates religion, family, and friendship.

Margaret Simon’s (Abby Ryder Fortson) perfect summer comes crashing down when she returns home from summer camp to discover that her father (Benny Safdie) has taken a job in the suburbs of New Jersey. Unfortunately, this means leaving the concrete jungle that is New York City and her beloved grandmother (Kathy Bates). Her mother (Rachel McAdams) assures her this is for the best, but Margaret isn’t so sure. She’s frightened about adjusting to a new neighborhood and school.

Once the family arrives at their new home, Margaret is quickly befriended by Nancy (Elle Graham) and her friends Janie (Amari Alexis Price) and Gretchen (Katherine Mallen Kupferer). With these friends, Margaret deals with boys, gossip, menstruation cycles, and faith. Meanwhile, her mother struggles to find her place among the perfect suburban mothers after choosing to give up on the pursuit of her artistic endeavors.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is an emotional, endearing, and funny coming-of-age film about a young girl trying to navigate her journey into young adulthood. Fortson, primarily known for her role as the young Cassie Lang in the first two Ant-Man movies, shines with her portrayal of the awkward, sensitive, yet thoughtful Margaret. Her chemistry with every cast member is palpable and sells the story and the character’s arc as the film progresses. Fortson balances naivete, strength, and vulnerability as Margaret navigates puberty, her first kiss, her first crush, and her first realization that the adults around her are just as flawed and confused as she is. Her scenes with Bates and McAdams are touching and will resonate most with viewers. At such a young age, Fortson is on par with her adult co-stars, and her talent will continue to grow as she progresses within the industry. She’s a young starlet to keep an eye on.

McAdams and Bates also deliver powerful performances as women at a crossroads and dealing with the transitions in their own lives. McAdams’s character throws herself into being the perfect mother and wife but loses a bit of herself in trying to be perfect for everyone else. Her facial expressions and body language can convey so much: the heaviness of her shoulder’s when she’s sad. The weary face she wears when discussing her strained relationship with her parents.

Although Bates doesn’t get as much screen time as the other two, she’s just as crucial to Margaret’s journey as McAdams. She’s the super-loving and supportive grandmother who has to ultimately find her own life and happiness now that her son and his family have moved into a new phase of their lives. As Margaret begins to spend more time with her friends, she doesn’t have as much time to spend weekends with her grandmother. Bates conveys her character’s sadness but the realization that she has to let her beloved granddaughter live her young life.

Fortson, McAdams, and Bates all shine bright during a family dinner scene toward the film’s end. Margaret’s grandparents on her mother’s side visit for the first time, and the debate about whether Margaret is being raised Christian or Jewish disrupts a pleasant but tense evening. Fortson perfectly portrays Margaret’s resolve to choose her religion when ready. McAdams is hurt that her estranged parents have put her and her daughter in this position to begin with, and Bates is a fiery matriarch prepared to protect her family from the pain and hurt they’ve experienced in the past. Watching these three dynamics play out in one scene is genuinely astounding.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the rest of the young cast. Graham, Price, and Kupferer are talented and funny in their respective roles as Margaret’s friends. Graham’s character Nancy considers herself the group’s lead and portrays it with all the confidence you’d expect of a pre-teen, convinced she knows everything. This leads to some equally comedic and heartbreaking situations for her character as she realizes that the world is more complex than she would like to believe it is.

The film includes a minor subplot in which the girls gossip about their classmate, Laura (Isol Young) because she developed more quickly than they did. It highlights the petty and means young gossip friend groups carry out when they’re jealous and blindly following the leader. However, by the film’s end, Margaret has come to befriend and appreciate Laura for who she truly is.

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret is an entertaining coming-of-age film that is emotional, funny, and a reminder of the awkward and uncomfortable moments we all experience growing up.

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret is currently playing in theaters courtesy of Lionsgate.