‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.’ review: Judy Blume’s iconic book is brought to life in a heartfelt adaptation with a charming Rachel McAdams

Ahhh! The coming-of-age story – the timeless tale of emerging hormones, romantic feelings and new realizations of identity and questions like, ‘Where do I fit in the world and what is a period?’ While many films, books and television shows have tackled the coming-of-age story, there’s one author, in particular, who has pushed forward these stories from the young female perspective. Judy Blume’s books have been a safe haven, a friend and help during the most awkward time in one’s life.  And now, finally, one of her most beloved books, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. hits the big screen directed and written by Kelly Fremon Craig.(The Edge of Seventeen) Get ready to go back to all those pre-teen feelings! Are you sweating already? I am. 

Whether you’re a Judy Blume aficionado or not, the story lends itself to be quite cinematic in its universality setting of growing up. The film follows eleven-year-old Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) returning from the high of summer camp when all of a sudden she is thrust into a sea of change when her mother Barbara (Rachel McAdams) and father Herb (Benny Safdie) announce they are moving from the city and moving to the suburbs. This change not only affects Margaret, but her paternal grandmother Sylvia (Kathy Bates) whom Margaret has a loving, close relationship with. The energy Bates exudes as Sylvia is so fun to watch and every time she is on screen you don’t know what to expect but want more. 

The “God” character gives voice to young Margaret to express all the angst and unknown she is going through. The way that Craig managed to capture this voice on screen is truly one of the highlights of the film. Preteen movies can either go super cheesy or lean into the dark but the tone that Craig sets is one of perfect Blume ‘s awkward discoveries that is beautifully maintained throughout the film. While I’m two decades past my own puberty, I couldn’t help but be transported back in time with the light and nonjudgemental tone that the film sets that really encapsulates the spirit of Blume. One can easily understand why Blume, after saying no to previous adaptations of her book, said yes to Craig. 

The thoughtfulness of the tone is felt throughout the film and it all starts with Margaret herself played by the charming Fortson who breathes in so much of the preteen angst, confusion and innocence with her character that you can’t help but smile when she’s discovering all these bits and pieces of uncharted territory. This extends to Margaret’s family –  Barbara is going through her own change. Having not fit the mold that a mother would have been predestined to in the 1970s, we learn that Barbara is going to try and adapt to be the PTA perfect mold and be more present for Margaret instead of working as an artist. McAdams was a delight to watch as Barbara. She’s not overbearing, she’s working through her own change and also dealing with a painful past with her own parents who did not accept her marriage to Herb, due to religious differences. This is probably the most contentious part of the film, just as Blume’s books were controversial given their outspoken nature on girl’s coming-of-age, she also didn’t shy away from what was happening with adults and topics of the day that feel all too topical in today’s world.

The book was written in 1970 and the film stays true to the time period and adapts this world to the screen beautifully through its subtle production design and costumes. You know you’re in this time period but it’s not overbearing. It’s simply one element of the film. I have to give a shoutout to whomever did McAdams hair, you get the Farrah Fawcett vibes yet it still feels so modern. Craig sprinkles Blume’s  iconic dialogue a Judy Blume fan would recognize like “We must, we must, we must increase our bust” without alienating those who may not be familiar with the source material. There’s always the question with book-to-film adaptations, “which version is better?” and in this case, both are in their lane and compliment each other nicely. 

The film keeps the religious beliefs and questions Margaret has about them respectful and curious and it’s fun to see Margaret go through all the different masses trying to figure out what is the “right” choice. And there can’t be preteen angst without friendships, romance and talking about emerging body parts. Those familiar with the book will be both annoyed and thrilled at Elle Graham’s portrayal of the infamous Nancy Wheeler. Nancy is outspoken and seems to have it all figured out but Margaret will come to learn that what is portrayed is not always the truth. While it was fun to see Margaret interact with Nancy and the other friends, they felt one-dimensional. Nancy can be seen as the antagonist yet you know there’s an underlying insecurity behind the choices she makes and it felt like a missed opportunity to show some of that on Nancy’s end. 

There have been too few portrayals of periods on screen in a positive way. I’m glad that this is now changing and that Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. went full on in its honest depiction on pad placement, discussions on womanhood and all the funny things preteens think of what a period is and what it actually entails. As someone who went through this themselves, it accurately portrayed this coming-of-age moment in a way that hit close to home (that pad buying scene!) and my only criticism is that there wasn’t talk about those painful cramps that come along with it. Everyone was a little too happy to get their period – but it’s a preteen movie – plenty of time for all of that crampiness later. 

While the film isn’t perfect – the opening editing montage felt super quick and it would have been nice to slow it down and lean more into Margaret’s life before the preteen angst. The film manages to really encapsulate the spirit of what Judy Blume’s books were all about – figuring out who you are with new changes and who you want to be. And while this can easily be regulated to being a young girl’s story it was so nice to see that there’s something for everyone – whether you’re Barbara, going through your own reawakening of what you want to do in your life or Sylvia, figuring out who you want to be once your kids are grown and grandchildren move away. It’s three generations of women at different turning points in their life and adds an unexpected complexity and layers to the film that I continued to think about after watching the film, like a good Blume book.

Grade: B

Lionsgate will release Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. only in theaters on April 28.

Photo: Dana Hawley