Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (film)

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. is a 2023 American coming-of-age period comedy-drama film produced, written for the screen, and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. It is based on the 1970 novel of the same name by Judy Blume.[5] The film stars Abby Ryder Fortson as the title character, along with Rachel McAdams, Elle Graham, Benny Safdie, and Kathy Bates.

This article is about the 2023 film. For the 1970 novel, see Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKelly Fremon Craig
Screenplay byKelly Fremon Craig
Based onAre You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
by Judy Blume
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyTim Ives
Edited by
Music byHans Zimmer
Production
company
Distributed byLionsgate
Release dates
  • April 23, 2023 (2023-04-23) (SFIFF)
  • April 28, 2023 (2023-04-28) (United States)
Running time
106 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$30 million[2]
Box office$16.7 million[3][4]

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. had its world premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival on April 23, 2023, and was released in the United States on April 28, 2023, by Lionsgate. The film received critical acclaim and has grossed $16 million.

Plot

In 1970, eleven-year-old Margaret Simon returns to her New York City home after spending her summer at a sleepaway camp. Her parents Barbara and Herb inform her that the family is moving to a New Jersey suburb for her father’s job. Margaret is dejected about the move as she does not want to leave the city and resents being further away from Sylvia, her beloved paternal grandmother. She begins to communicate with God about her anxieties, thoughts, and hopes. Upon moving to New Jersey, she is quickly befriended by her neighbor and soon-to-be classmate Nancy Wheeler, who welcomes her into her friend group that includes two other girls, Gretchen Potter and Janie Loomis.

At school, Margaret is given a year-long research assignment by her teacher, Mr. Benedict. When he learns she dislikes religious holidays, Margaret explains that since her mom is a Christian and her dad is Jewish, the family does not observe the holidays and has left it up to Margaret to decide on her own religious identity as she grows older. Barbara is estranged from her devoutly Christian parents Paul and Mary because they disowned her upon her marriage to Herb; as a result, Margaret has never met her maternal grandparents. Margaret’s school assignment prods her to explore other religions and to ask her mom about her grandparents. She goes to different places of worship, including accompanying Sylvia to temple, attending a Black Christian church service with Janie, and going to a Nativity mass during Christmas with Nancy. Meanwhile, Barbara attempts to fit in with the PTA and signs up for multiple committees, which draws her away from her hobby of painting and teaching art.

Margaret and her new friends anticipate the milestones of puberty, such as wearing a bra and getting their first kisses. Gretchen brings home a sex education book that they all look through, and the girls are shown a video about menstruation and female reproduction at school. The girls are most excited about starting their periods. Margaret becomes impatient when other girls get their periods before her, including Gretchen and Nancy, and she asks God to help her "be normal" like everyone else. She and Janie buy sanitary pads at a drugstore to be prepared. At a classmate’s birthday party, Margaret enjoys her first kiss with Philip Leroy, a popular boy in her class. One night while out with Nancy and her family in New York City, Margaret learns Nancy had lied about getting her period earlier. For her school project, Margaret is paired up with Laura Danker, a girl her class gossips about because she is more developed than her peers. While studying with Laura at the library, Margaret brings up rumors about Laura letting boys "feel her up", causing Laura to become upset and storm out. Margaret feels guilty for shaming Laura because of the rumors.

For spring break, Margaret wants to visit Sylvia while she is vacationing in Florida, but these plans are interrupted when Paul and Mary reach out to Barbara and say they want to visit and meet Margaret. When Sylvia learns of the cancellation, she decides to show up at the Simon house with a friend from Florida on the same day of Paul and Mary’s visit. The night becomes awkward when Paul and Mary prod Margaret about possibly attending Sunday school, and Sylvia retorts that Margaret attends temple with her and has already made up her mind about what faith to practice. This sparks an argument between the parents and grandparents, ending with Margaret screaming that she doesn’t care about religion and doesn’t even believe in God. She stops her practice of speaking to him.

When Margaret hands in her completed school assignment for Mr. Benedict, it’s revealed she has not resolved the issue of her religious identity. Although upset at first, Margaret learns to be comfortable about her lack of affiliation. Barbara, who has since returned to teaching painting, runs into Nancy’s mother Jan, the PTA president, who prods her about upcoming PTA events. Barbara politely declines and feels a sense of relief for being honest about her true passion. At the end of the school year, Margaret has possibly forgiven Nancy and thanks Mr. Benedict for being a good teacher. She also reconciles with Laura and welcomes her into her friend group. Just before leaving for summer camp, Margaret talks to Nancy’s brother Evan’s friend Moose, a neighborhood boy who mows her family's lawn and whom she has a crush on, and the two agree to hang out when she comes back. She promptly discovers her first period has arrived and excitedly tells her mom, resuming her communication with God.

Cast
  • Rachel McAdams as Barbara Simon
  • Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret Simon
  • Elle Graham as Nancy Wheeler
  • Benny Safdie as Herb Simon
  • Kathy Bates as Sylvia Simon
  • Echo Kellum as Mr. Benedict
  • Isol Young as Laura Danker
  • Amari Alexis Price as Janie Loomis
  • Katherine Kupferer as Gretchen Potter
  • Aidan Wojtak-Hissong as Moose Freed
  • Kate MacCluggage as Mrs. Jan Wheeler
  • Zack Brooks as Philip Leroy
  • Mia Dillon as Mary Hutchins
  • Gary Houston as Paul Hutchins

Production

After rejecting several offers to adapt her book in the 49 years since its publication, author Judy Blume sold the film rights to James L. Brooks and Kelly Fremon Craig, who worked together on The Edge of Seventeen (2016), with Craig set to write and direct. A studio bidding war over the distribution rights was won by Lionsgate.[6][7]

In February 2021, it was announced that Abby Ryder Fortson would star as the titular Margaret, with Rachel McAdams cast as her mother.[8] Kathy Bates was added to the cast in March.[9] In April, Benny Safdie joined the cast.[10]

Principal photography began on April 1, 2021, in Charlotte, North Carolina.[11] Filming also took place in Concord, North Carolina late in May,[12] and wrapped in June 2021.[13] Hans Zimmer composed the film's score.[14]

Release

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. had its world premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival on April 23, 2023, and was released on April 28, 2023, by Lionsgate Films.[15] It was originally scheduled to be released on September 16, 2022.[16]

Reception

Box office

In the United States and Canada, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. was released alongside Big George Foreman and Sisu, and was projected to gross $7–9 million from 3,334 theaters in its opening weekend. The film made $2.3 million on its first day, including $600,000 from early previews. It went on to debut to $6.8 million, finishing third behind holdovers The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Evil Dead Rise.[17] In its second weekend the film made $3.2 million, finishing in fourth.[18]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 99% of 148 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "Effervescent and refreshingly frank about the travails of puberty, this long-awaited adaptation does full justice to Judy Blume's seminal novel."[19] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 86 out of 100, based on 41 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[20] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled by PostTrak gave it an 88% positive score (with an average 4.5 out of 5 stars).[17]

Critics praised the film for being a faithful adaptation of the book while also fleshing out its adult characters. Pete Hammond of Deadline Hollywood described the film as a "rip-roaring, funny, human, wonderful studio movie comedy you might have forgotten Hollywood knew how to make anymore", and praised the film's cast, period detail, and Craig's direction.[21] Hammond pointed out how "every character in this film is finding there is much to learn in life at whatever point you happen to be."[21] Time called Fortson "marvelous" and said she "[captures] all of Margaret's eager earnestness".[22] Writing for Jezebel, Rodlyn-mae Banting said the "film adaptation comes as a gift—one that fiercely advocates for the beauty of girlhood in all of its agonizing, terrifying, but absolutely exhilarating glory."[23] Amy Nicholson of Variety said "There’s plenty in [the film] to treasure" and "the [girls'] friendship scenes are standouts", but opined the film also "seems uneasy putting funny, flawed and all-too-realistic Margaret on screen exactly as she is."[24]

References
  1. "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (PG)". BBFC. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  2. Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 2, 2020). "Lionsgate Wins Movie Auction For Seminal Judy Blume Novel 'Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  3. "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. - Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  4. "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. - Financial Information". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  5. Gyarkye, Lovia (April 20, 2023). "'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' Review: Rachel McAdams in a Judy Blume Adaptation That Was Worth the Wait". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  6. Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 5, 2020). "Hot Book Package: James L. Brooks, Kelly Fremon Craig On Judy Blume's 'After You There God? It's Me, Margaret'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  7. Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 2, 2020). "Lionsgate Wins Movie Auction For Seminal Judy Blume Novel 'Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  8. Rankin, Seija (February 19, 2021). "Rachel McAdams and Abby Ryder Fortson join the Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret movie". People. Archived from the original on February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  9. N'Duka, Amanda (March 2, 2021). "Kathy Bates Joins 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' Adaptation At Lionsgate". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  10. Sneider, Jeff (April 7, 2021). "Exclusive: Benny Safdie Joins Rachel McAdams in 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' Movie". Collider. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  11. Hipes, Patrick (February 19, 2021). "'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' Movie Finds Its Margaret In 'Ant-Man's Abby Ryder Fortson; Rachel McAdams Also Set". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  12. Plemmons, Mark (May 28, 2021). "Friday Five: Big stars in Concord?". Independent Tribune. Archived from the original on May 28, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  13. Valluzzo, Andrea (December 28, 2022). "Fairfield actress to star in new Rachel McAdams movie". CT Insider. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  14. "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (2023)". Soundtrack.net. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  15. D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 15, 2022). "'Dirty Dancing' Sequel Sets 2024 Release; 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' Heads To Pre-Summer 2023". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  16. D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 31, 2022). "Lionsgate Dates Feature Adaptation Of Judy Blume's 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' For Fall". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  17. D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 30, 2023). "'Super Mario Bros' Swallowing Up 'Margaret', 'George Foreman' & More – Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  18. D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 8, 2023). "'Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3' Even Higher With $118M+ Opening; MCU James Gunn Threequel Had $90M Global Promo Partner Campaign". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  19. "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  20. "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  21. Hammond, Pete (April 20, 2023). "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret Review: Judy Blume's Classic Book On Screen After 50 Years Is Well Worth The Wait". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  22. "Review: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret". Time. April 28, 2023. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  23. Banting, Rodlyn-mae (April 26, 2023). "'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' Takes the Messiness of Girlhood Seriously". Jezebel. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  24. Nicholson, Amy (April 20, 2023). "Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret Review: An Appealing But Edgeless Adaptation of a Coming-of-Age Classic". Variety. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
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