Review: 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' is refreshingly honest and relevant

By Peter Travers

It’s only taken half a century. But "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret," Judy Blume’s enduring 1970 bestseller about a pre-teen girl’s tug-of-war with puberty and religion, has finally made it to the big screen. And the result is totally irresistible. It’s also bracingly frank. Blume, 85, and still going strong, tells it like it is, without going soft on hard truths.

Fearing Hollywood mishandling, Blume had previously refused to sell screen rights to her breakthrough novel. But a passionate email from writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig, whose 2016 "The Edge of Seventeen" reflects Blume’s forthright style, sparked a change of heart.

Lucky for us. Back in the 1980s, "Margaret" faced the wrath of censors about Blume’s provocative treatment of a girl’s coming of age, including her first period. Now, with new laws and regulations out to limit what children should be exposed to, Blume is again on the hot seat.

As ever, this pioneer for free expression is ready to take on all comers. No punches pulled. The terrific newcomer Abby Ryder Fortson nails every laugh, tear and nuance as 11-year-old Margaret Simon, back home in tumultuous Manhattan after a 1970s summer sleepaway camp.

Lionsgate

Rachel McAdams as Barbara Simon, Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret Simon, and Benny Safdie as Herb Simon in Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret," 2023.

That’s when she receives the shattering news from mom Barbara (Rachel McAdams) and dad Herb (Benny Safdie) that his job promotion means a move to the square New Jersey suburbs. That’s hell for Margaret and her doting grandma and fellow city girl Sylvia (Kathy Bates).

Oscar winner Bates is a hoot-and-a-half as Sylvia appraises her situation as a grandparent left behind. "I read that when you don’t have any loved ones around you, your life expectancy drops drastically. But, you know, I’ve had a good run."

This is about the time when Margaret starts talking to God. Her Christian mother and Jewish dad haven’t raised her in any religion so she just puts her questions out there about her changing body and questioning mind. Even a sex ed film about menstruation is traumatic as a voice intones: “The blood is released through the vagina.” Margaret nearly gags.

Can we pause to mention how smashing these actors are at extending Margaret’s story through several generations. McAdams, whose films run the gamut from "Mean Girls" and "The Notebook" to the drama of "Spotlight," excels at showing the pangs of Barbara’s adjustment.

And Safdie, whose indie films with his co-director brother Benny run to the violent, raunchy likes of "Uncut Gems" with Adam Sandler, delivers a performance laced with gentle wit and compassion about the mysteries of young womanhood.

Dana Hawley/Lionsgate

Kathy Bates as Sylvia Simon and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret Simon in a scene from the movie, "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret."

Forston makes a perfect guide through adolescence with the help of a mouthy Jersey girl called Nancy (a dynamite Elle Graham), who quickly invites Margaret into a secret club -- Gretchen (Katherine Mallen Kupferer) and Janie (Amari Alexis Price) are also members -- that involves bras, boy talk, bullying and an exercise chant: "We must, we must, we must increase our bust."

As audiences, we must ignore any resurgent, red-state cries for politically motivated suppression about a PG-13 movie that speaks with such refreshing honesty about the humiliation and hilarity we all go through on the bumpy road to growing up.

A new documentary, "Judy Blume Forever," details the beloved author’s lifelong crusade for candor about young adulthood. What luck that her advocacy is alive and thriving in "Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret," a stirring tribute to the fact that Judy Blume really is forever.