Review (Scott Mc Cutcheon 19/05/23)
American
writer Judy Blume first published her novel Are You there God? It’s Me Margaret
in 1970. The novel with its frank discussions about sexual and religious topics
has been decried by some and praised by others.
Blume’s
novel centres around 11 year old Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson), a sixth-grader
who grows up without any religious faith. Her father who is Jewish and her
mother who is Catholic (Benny Safdie and Rachel McAdams) have decided that
when she’s old enough she can make up her own mind about religion. Uprooted
from her life in New York for the suburbs of New Jersey, Margaret has to deal with
the trauma of puberty whilst trying to make new friends.
Her one
confidante is her grandmother Sylvia (Kathy Bates) who is very much of
the Jewish faith and much to the annoyance of her mother’s Catholic parents,
tries to steer her in that direction.
The subject matter might have been controversial in the 70s but now 50 odd
years later it all seems a bit tame and nothing that’s not been seen in various
teen movies over the years since the publication of the original novel.
The cast are all great and Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret is certainly
entertaining just don’t go expecting a life affirming experience like reading
the book for the first time back in 1970 might have been.
