Judy Blume’s best-selling coming-of-age book from 50 years ago is as relatable today as it was then. Writer/Director Kelly Fremon Craig, collaborating with best-selling Judy Blume have created in a charming, direct, humorous, yet sensitive trip through adolescence. Whenever she questions anything, she looks up and asks Are you there God? It’s Me Margaret, looking for guidance.
The cast is rich with Rachel McAdams as the thoughtful Mom, Kathy Bates as the over attentive Jewish grandmother and Abby Ryder Fortson (Ant-Man and the Wasp) as the 11-year-old navigating mental and physical changes at that tender age.
Margaret (Abby) lives in New York, but is about to move with her family to a New Jersey suburb. It’s a big adjustment going to a new school, making new friends who have their own agenda. She’s picked as the 4th in a club with a ring leader who might be described as one of the Mean Girls. She puts her friends through their paces. Nancy (Elle Graham-Secrets of Sulphur Springs) keeps tabs making Janie (Amari Price), Gretchen (Katherine Kupferer) and Abby promise to reveal when they’ve procured their first bra and when they get their period.
Abby’s eyes just keep getting wider as the revelations of puberty keep presenting themselves. And her poor Mom, Barbara (Rachel McAdams) has to learn on the job how to tackle her daughter’s physical and mental development while setting up her new household. Then she signs up for every PTA committee to be involved in their new community!
McAdams and Abby have good chemistry and are cute together as they interact, both feeling their way. McAdams is always good and Abby uses her facial expressions to advantage, especially her innocent, inquisitive furrowed brow.
Poor Abby has a lot on her plate for a little girl, including attending her first birthday party with her new classmates and getting her first kiss. Blume didn’t miss a trick in the book, and Fremon Craig makes sure the most sensitive topics are portrayed with a light touch. From “We must, We must, We must increase our bust” exercises, to buying sanitary napkins and then Barbara teaching Abby how to use them, all are handled well. In fact, at the Q & A we attended, a new father and some young boys voiced being surprised and appreciative with what they learned.
Whenever Abby gets stressed, she reaches out to Sylvia Simon (Bates), the doting Jewish Grandmother who is always there for her. Bates is not Jewish, but handles the role like a pro. Her unconditional love comes through as Abby’s sounding board, even if a little pushy. Abby’s parents are Barbara, a non-practicing Christian, and Herb Simon (Benny Safdie) was raised Jewish. So religion and guilt, both Christian and Jewish, create hilarious chaos when Barbara’s estranged religious Christian parents show up at the same time Sylvia comes with her new male friend to rescue Abby. Talk about a religious war!
Judy Blume waited more than 50 years before finding the right director to bring it to life. And with a cast that makes this film refreshingly human without being sappy. It’s a very lovingly candid adaptation that has definitely stood the test of time.
Lionsgate. 1 hour 45 minutes. PG-13
Lionsgate publicity photos by Dana Hawley
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