This coming-of-age film follows 11-year-old Margaret after her family relocates from New York City to suburban New Jersey.
It has taken 53 years for Judy Blume’s beloved 1970 novel Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret to be adapted for the big screen, but it was well worth the wait.
The coming-of-age film, written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, follows 11-year-old Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) after she relocates from New York City to suburban New Jersey with her parents Barbara (Rachel McAdams) and Herb (Benny Safdie) in 1970.
The impressionable Margaret is immediately taken under the wing of her headstrong neighbour Nancy (Elle Graham), who invites her into her friendship group alongside Janie (Amari Alexis Price) and Gretchen (Katherine Kupferer).
Over the course of the film, Margaret has to figure out what kind of person she wants to be, who she would like to be friends with and if she wants to identify as Christian (like her mum), Jewish (like her dad) or neither.
This coming-of-age story will entertain everybody but it will particularly strike a chord with teenage girls (or former teenage girls) who can relate to Margaret’s concerns about puberty, breast size, getting her period, and kissing boys.
It accurately captures the angst and awkwardness of that time and manages to tell Margaret’s story in a funny and heartfelt way.
The film is the most entertaining when the four girls are together talking about their crushes, and their bodies, and trying to increase their busts.
Fortson is endearing, immensely likeable, and wonderfully portrays Margaret’s innocence and naivete, while Graham, Price, and Kupferer are hilarious as the more knowledgeable girls.
Margaret is the lead character, but her mother Barbara is a fully-fleshed out person too and McAdams gives her such a warm presence. She’s the coolest, most understanding mum ever!
There are a lot of parallels between the pair, as Barbara is also trying to figure out who she is in this new environment as a mum, wife, and individual.
This movie is an absolute joy and one of the most tender, funny and realistic coming-of-age films in recent years. They don’t make them like this anymore!
In cinemas from Friday 19th May.
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