It took a half-century to adapt Judy Blume's archetypal and "controversial" novel "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" to the big screen. Author Judy Blume has always had reservations about having her popular pre-teen novels adapted but have no fear, Margaret is finally here. I have never read a Judy Blume novel so I know I am not the intended target audience but this movie is jolly good fun with a zestful Abby Ryder Fortson as Blume's 11-year-old protagonist who is concerned about issues such as her period. Like I said, I know I am not the intended audience.
That is not all there is to the movie as Margaret is unhappy moving from their NYC apartment to a house in the New Jersey suburbs. Both gleefully happy and spirited about the move is Margaret's mom, Barbara (Rachel McAdams), who is gung-ho about leaving her teaching job since dad (Benny Safdie) got a promotion (imagine not having both parents work). Margaret makes new friends almost immediately including her neighbor Nancy Wheeler (Elle Graham), who indoctrinates Margaret into a girl's group where they talk about bras, boys and their impending periods. They are all classmates at the same school and pretty soon Margaret adapts rather quickly to this new environment.
"Are You There God?" doesn't stop there as we also examine Margaret's uncertain religious affiliations since her mother is a non-practicing Christian and her father is a non-practicing Jew. Which persuasion fits with Margaret always asking God for advice and solutions to pressing problems? Her colorful, blunt-as-a-whistle grandmother (ideally cast Kathy Bates) takes Margaret to temple though she has no idea what the rabbis are saying since they speak Hebrew. Her parents and her grandmother are deciding her affiliation for her without asking her what she wants.
These were questions I was far more invested in than Margaret's period issues (though the conversations between her and her friends are animated and quite funny especially about bra sizes and their daily physical exercise of wanting to increase their bust). I was also invested in Rachel McAdams as the mother who tells Margaret in a beautifully written and sensitive scene about why her own mother and father have disowned her (interfaith marriage has something to do with it). McAdams always come alive on screen - she sizzles and charms us every step of the way.
Abby Ryder Fortson is exceptional as the Margaret of a time (the year is 1970) that no longer exists. She is not only authentic in her performance and warmly sensitive and engaging, she also looks like a girl from that period (no pun intended). She is the heart and soul of this wonderfully tender movie and I hope Judy Blume is proud of that.
