When you hear that a Judy Blume book from the 1970s about young girls coming of age is getting a film adaptation, it’s hard to think about how it could possibly be relevant 60+ years later. I never read Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret growing up. So, I went into the film waiting to see why this book? Why now? Well, let me tell you right now, it’s absolutely stellar! Somehow it’s the perfect representation of girlhood while being a timeless story about generations of womanhood.

ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET

The storyline of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret follows Margaret Simon. She’s an 11-year-old girl who is ripped from her home in New York City and plopped into the suburbs of New Jersey. There are so many coming-of-age plot points throughout the film that are handled so incredibly well that I was surprised. 

While watching the film I am transported back to a time in my life when I was picking my lifetime group of girlfriends, learning about puberty, and gossiping about boys. The film is very reminiscent of one of my favorite childhood coming-of-age films, Now and Then, minus the heavy trauma. I loved watching Margaret and her friends navigate some of the rights of passage tweenhood from getting your period, to figuring out what type of friend you want to be, and how to handle friends that aren’t so great.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret also tackles a subject I was not expecting – religion. Margaret comes from interfaith parents. Her father is Jewish, and her mother grew up Christian. Margaret’s mother, Barbara’s, parents disowned her for marrying a Jewish man. So, they raised Margaret without religion so she can go on her our journey and decide for herself.

Throughout Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret we watch Margaret explore different religions by going to Jewish Temple with her grandmother. Then attending church with one of her friends, and ending up in confession after hurting a girl from school’s feelings. This entire storyline comes to a pivotal head when her mother’s parents show up pretending to want to make amends.

FANTASTIC PERFORMANCES AND STORYTELLING

Abby Ryder Fortson (Ant-Man) as Margaret is adorable. I loved watching her as this unsure young girl who is relatably figuring things out. The moments with the young girls playing her friends are some of my favorites. They reminded me of my group of girlfriends growing up. She also has fantastic chemistry with her mother played by Rachel McAdams (Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness), and her grandmother, Kathy Bates (American Horror Story).

Rachel McAdams is one of my favorite actresses. I love seeing her play a mother who is still finding herself in this new life while trying to do right by her family. She has really cute moments opposite Benny Safdie (Licorice Pizza) who plays her husband, Herb.

Kathy Bates is always a force on screen and she never half-plays a character. I LOVE her as the overbearing grandmother. She adds levity, and light while also being a confidant to young Margaret. 

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret hits theaters Friday, April 28th! Make sure you go see it!