Written for the Screen & Directed By Kelly Fremon Craig; Starring Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, Elle Graham, Benny Safdie, Echo Kellum, and Kathy Bates.
Based on Judy Blume’s 1970 novel of the same name, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret follows a sixth grade girl named Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson). She is uprooted from her life in New York City for the suburbs of New Jersey, going through the messy and tumultuous throes of puberty with new friends in a new school. Margaret relies on her mother, Barbara (Rachel McAdams), who is also struggling to adjust to life outside the big city, and her adoring grandmother, Sylvia (Kathy Bates), who isn't happy they moved away.
I previously knew nothing about the original source material. Though since I heard good things about this movie, I decided to give it a shot. As a straight man, I connected with this much more than I thought I would. For a story about a pre-teen girl, the themes feel pretty mature. Props to writer/director Kelly Fremon Craig who manages to make the whole thing accessible to all audiences. Everything is also paced very well thanks to editors Nick Moore & Oona Flaherty.
Abby Ryder Fortson gives such a strong performance as Magaret Simon. She really goes through a lot over the course of the film. From moving to a new city to starting a new school to deciding her religious identity to adolescence. I thought Fortson handled that character arc very well. Rachel McAdams is quite heartfelt as her Christian mother, Barbara. Benny Safdie is caring as her Jewish father Herb. Kathy Bates is very gracious as her Jewish grandmother, Sylvia.
No matter what age or gender you are, this story is still easily relatable. There’s plenty of moments here that may bring back memories of when you were in sixth grade. To all grownups out there who may have no interest in seeing Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, you should give it a shot. That’s exactly what I did and it paid off for me. It’s a feel good film that’s very moving and funny at times.
Rating: 4/5
Based on Judy Blume’s 1970 novel of the same name, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret follows a sixth grade girl named Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson). She is uprooted from her life in New York City for the suburbs of New Jersey, going through the messy and tumultuous throes of puberty with new friends in a new school. Margaret relies on her mother, Barbara (Rachel McAdams), who is also struggling to adjust to life outside the big city, and her adoring grandmother, Sylvia (Kathy Bates), who isn't happy they moved away.
I previously knew nothing about the original source material. Though since I heard good things about this movie, I decided to give it a shot. As a straight man, I connected with this much more than I thought I would. For a story about a pre-teen girl, the themes feel pretty mature. Props to writer/director Kelly Fremon Craig who manages to make the whole thing accessible to all audiences. Everything is also paced very well thanks to editors Nick Moore & Oona Flaherty.
Abby Ryder Fortson gives such a strong performance as Magaret Simon. She really goes through a lot over the course of the film. From moving to a new city to starting a new school to deciding her religious identity to adolescence. I thought Fortson handled that character arc very well. Rachel McAdams is quite heartfelt as her Christian mother, Barbara. Benny Safdie is caring as her Jewish father Herb. Kathy Bates is very gracious as her Jewish grandmother, Sylvia.
No matter what age or gender you are, this story is still easily relatable. There’s plenty of moments here that may bring back memories of when you were in sixth grade. To all grownups out there who may have no interest in seeing Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, you should give it a shot. That’s exactly what I did and it paid off for me. It’s a feel good film that’s very moving and funny at times.
Rating: 4/5