Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret

Kelly Fremon Craig directs and adapts this first big screen version of Judy Blume’s 1970’s classic. Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) is an 11 year old girl living in New York. When she returns home from summer camp her world is turned upside down when Mum (Rachel McAdams) and Dad (Bernie Safdie) reveal they are moving to New Jersey, leaving Margaret’s life and Grandma (Kathy Bates) behind. There Margaret, and her mum, both have to navigate change, new friends, new lives and first loves. Alongside these changes we see Margaret struggle to understand religion, her Mum’s relationship with her parents, new friendships and most importantly starting to learn who she is.

It is fair to say as a man of an age I’m not the target market for this film or Blume’s source material. But that did not stop me been utterly charmed by this touching and humorous look at growing up and navigating change.

While I was never an 11 year old girl, the film captures the awkwardness of that age perfectly as we see Margaret trying to come to terms with understanding how she feels about her new life. We see her struggle with religion and whether it has a point. She tries to understand her mum’s complicated relationship with her parents. She tries to “rush” growing up as her mum welcomes her to womanhood more than once.But most importantly it’s about relationships and how we see and treat others.

The film is beautifully playerd and joyously warm. Abby Ryder Fortson is superb in the central role, capturing the awkwardness of her age perfectly. The supporting cast are excellent too, Rachel McAdams particularly, in portraying the adult version of her daughter’s challenges. But it is her group of friends that steal the show Elle Graham, Amari Alexis Price and Katherine Mallen Kupferer as the secret gang Margaret finds herself in.

While I may not be the target audience for this I found it a beautifully warm hearted and charming film. It humourously and touchingly shows dealing with growing up and change. Brilliantly played by its cast and a real treat.