20s Movie Review - Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

Director: Kelly Fremon Craig
Genre: Comedy/ Family/ Drama
Runtime: 106 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Abby Ryder Fortson, Bennie Safdie, Kathy Bates

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 7: A FILM DIRECTED BY A WOMAN
 
Description: When her family moves from the city to the suburbs, 11-year-old Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) navigates new friends, feelings, and the beginning of adolescence.

Review: It’s 1970. Margaret, an 11-year-old girl, is in the top grade of elementary school and right on the verge of puberty. With a Jewish father and a Christian mother, she is searching for the religion that best suits her. This while she has to get used to a new environment, as their family just moves from New York City to the suburbs of new Jersey.

The film shows what goes through the mind of an 11-year-old. Of course at this age you worry about your first kiss, your body changing, friendships.

The film doesn’t shy away from more mature themes either. For example, Margaret and her friends hope to get their period so that they can go through life as ‘real women’ sooner. When one of her friends actually gets it, we don’t see relief, but a crying girl on the toilet. Scared and uncertain. “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” puts you in the shoes of a young adolescent and creates appropriate situations around it, both serious and funny. Well balanced.

The film feels realistic in everything, with the idea that we get a glimpse into a moment in this family’s life. The acting high level. Abby Ryder Fortson play the titual Margaret so well. Her mother is portrayed by Rachel McAdams, where she proofs again why she is one of my all-time favorites. Her role is super strong and I loved her character in it as well. Kathy Bates is a scene stealer as always, playing Margaret’s grandmother.

Margaret seeks support and advice from God, but actually she doesn’t even know of she believes in God. This highlights the uncertainty you can experience at this age. You often allow yourself to be led by you parents or influenced by the environment. It is good that the film shows this and then also show the opposites, with Margaret slowly starting to form her own opinion throughout the film.

“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” is a beautiful coming-of-age film in which the title character discovers her own identity in a new environment, with appropriate dramatic moment entirely in service of the characters. A perfect movie to make you feel good.

Rating: 4,5/ 5