The joys and struggles of growing up are laid out hilariously in ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET., based on Judy Blume’s beloved book. Courtesy of Lionsgate.I have a new favorite director, and her name is Kelly Fremon Craig. Back in 2016, Craig released a teen comedy/drama called The Edge of Seventeen, starring Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson, and Kyra Sedgwick. It’s not just one of my favorite teen movies. It’s one of my favorite movies EVER. Craig taps so realistically into what it feels like to be a teenager, more than ANY filmmaker alive. That’s a big statement, and I mean every word of it! There are tons of teen movies that I love, but so many of them are overdramatic, silly, and frivolous. Craig does the opposite. She films the truth about those years when we were young and didn’t know any better, the years when we felt like we had the worst lives possible. There is comedy, yes, but there’s also a lot of heartbreak. Regardless, we can’t ever forget our childhood.
Films about childhood or our “teenage” years can be painful for some. I remember having a conversation with someone about The Edge of Seventeen.
“Ugh, I hated the lead character,” she told me. “She was so annoying.”
“Well, she’s playing a teenager,” I replied. “We were all a little annoying when we were young.”
“Um,” she paused. “No, no we weren’t. I mean, I wasn’t. I….”
She couldn’t finish her sentence because she couldn’t admit it. I just knew it! When we were young, we were…literally developing mentally. For some people, watching teen films can be triggering because it’s like watching an embarrassing video of yourself. For me, on the other hand, I LOVE recounting my child and teenage years. I love reminiscing about how dumb, idiotic, and ridiculous I was. It’s cathartic in a strange way.
My favorite years of my life were my teen years. My child years, well, that’s a different story. Anyway, I say all of this because Craig is back with another adolescent film about the joys and pains of childhood called ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET. Based on the acclaimed novel by Judy Blume, it’s the first great movie I’ve seen in 2023. I have a very busy schedule these next few weeks, but I do hope I can take time to get a ticket and see this wonderful film again. It’s a film so honest and heartfelt that I just wanted to steal the reel from the theater and take it home with me. I don’t know how Craig does it, but she has successfully crafted another positively truthful, sad, hilarious, unforgettable movie about those memories we love and hate when we were kids.
Judy Blume I’ve always heard of, but I’ve never read any of her books. The 85-year-old’s stories have impacted the lives of so many women throughout the years. Anyone, especially women, can relate to her characters. Anyone who’s read a Judy Blume book has that moment of going “Wow! I remember that feeling when I was a kid!” I think what especially sets the author apart is how candid her stories are. I wouldn’t call her novels “kids” books, per se, because kids books don’t usually explore themes as mature as menstruation, masturbation, having sex for the first time, etc. She’s bold in her writing. She never sugarcoats the delights of being young. We all know by now that being young can be especially tough. (If you love Blume, check out her new documentary, Judy Blume Forever. Now streaming on Amazon Prime.)
When I left the theater after watching ARE YOU THERE, GOD?, a friend asked me if he thought this would be suitable for children to see.
“100%,” I said, “However, will they enjoy it? I’m not so sure.”
This isn’t a kids movie but a movie about kids. I think every adult who grew up reading Blume’s books will adore this film. It may take a few years for children to appreciate its humor and nostalgic depiction of youth, but once they do, ARE YOU THERE, GOD? will be the next cult classic. I’m sure of it. (I should add that the MPAA stupidly awarded the film a PG-13 rating for “thematic material involving sexual education.” Don’t worry. Yes, there is talk about sex and menstruation in this movie. Why? Because every kid talks about that when they’re young!)
ARE YOU THERE, GOD? is perhaps Blume’s most acclaimed novel. In Craig’s adaptation, the titular heroine of the movie, Margaret Simon (played by an outstanding Abby Ryder Fortson), is bubbly and lives her life to the fullest. She lives in 1970s New York City with the most loving parents in the world, Barbara (Rachel McAdams) and Herb (Benny Safdie). She is also super close with her adorably Jewish grandmother, Sylvia (Kathy Bates, excellent), Herb’s mother. One summer after returning from camp, Margaret is flabbergasted when her parents announce that they’re moving to the New Jersey suburbs. This is a fabulous scene in the way Craig depicts how appreciative the Simons are as a family. Margaret is disappointed, but she is well-behaved and doesn’t throw a hissy fit. Her parents and grandmother understand that moving is a big deal and reason with her on the matter. They don’t shout at her or tell her to “grow up” and act like an adult. They get that she’s just a kid. It’s OK to be nervous. They’re just moving. That’s life. It’s not the end of the world. ALL parents should be like the Simons!
When they arrive in New Jersey, their new home is certainly different from the Big Apple. Barbara, who used to teach art, becomes a stay-at-home mom while Herb brings home the bacon. Upon moving in, Margaret is approached by another sixth grader named Nancy (Elle Graham), a neighbor of hers. Nancy is, well, nice most of the time, but she’s definitely privileged and doesn’t always say the right thing. Margaret is taken aback by Nancy’s energy, but she appreciates making a friend so quickly. Nancy’s other friends, Janie (Amari Alexis Price) and Gretchen (Katherine Mallen Kupferer), are equally hyper.
Religion plays a massive role in ARE YOU THERE, GOD? Margaret was never raised religiously for a tragic reason. When Barbara, raised by devout Christian parents, met Herb, a Jew, her parents disowned her, appalled that she could marry “such a man.” For obvious reasons, Barbara and Herb vowed to never impose a religion on their daughter and just let her decide for herself when she’s older. Margaret doesn’t know what to believe. She prays to God every night, but who is God? Does she even know? She just wants answers, answers to the hard questions in life for any girl her age.
“When will I kiss a boy?”
“When will I finally get my period and feel like a woman?”
“When will I decide on a religion?”
We don’t always know the answers, and that’s what ARE YOU THERE, GOD? portrays so painfully. Barbara, played to perfection by McAdams, may be an adult, but she’s no different from her daughter. She, too, wants “answers.” She tries to fit in at the PTA and befriends some obviously wealthier parents, but nothing feels right. Barbara doesn’t like what she’s doing, but she can’t admit it. Behind her anxiety is the fact that her own parents won’t speak to her simply because her husband is Jewish. When will some miracle happen that fixes Barbara’s life? We don’t know. When we’re kids AND adults, we don’t know the answers. And sometimes, that really stinks.
I could go on and on about this movie. I LOVED it and guarantee that you will too. Craig has made one heck of a nostalgic film, from the soundtrack to the costume designs to the silly, hilarious moments like Margaret and her friends discussing when their breasts will come in and Margaret playing spin the bottle for the first time. Perhaps my favorite thing about ARE YOU THERE, GOD? was its depiction of middle-class and upper-class suburbia. In this town, it’s super diverse. Janie is African-American (including Margaret’s teacher, played by Echo Kellum) and even Gretchen is Jewish too when we notice a menorah in her home as she prepares for the “spin the bottle” party. The neighborhood is a melting pot. Certain individuals hide their prejudice while others are fully accepting of everyone. It’s a relief to watch a coming-of-age film that isn’t “so white and Christian,” if you know what I’m talking about. Here’s a story filled with different religions and races. There are no real villains in this neighborhood. Of course, some of them have some issues, but the actors never overdo it. Nancy, for example, is snobby, but she’s sensitive too. Just like Margaret, she just wants answers.
Have I given away too much? If I did, I do apologize. I think you have the hint now that you should absolutely check out this movie. Go in, have a laugh, have a good cry, and remember those crazy years when we were young.
ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET. is now playing in theaters.