Are You There God? It’s Me Maragaret Review
For the last few years, Hollywood has lacked in its big screen family comedies. Most of the comedies released now are crude, rude and mostly use profanity as a punchline. While there is nothing particularly wrong with this (Stepbrothers is the epitome of this juvenile humour and that is hilarious) it feels as though there has been an absence in a purer form of comedy. Kelly Fremen Craig’s, sweet and sincere, Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, is a return to something sorely missed. Set across one year, Are You There God follows the young Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) as she is forced to face the prospect of moving to New Jersey, leaving behind her friends and her beloved Grandma (Kathy Bates). Along with this, Margaret is confronted with the question of faith and the struggle to fit in with her newfound friend, Nancy (Elle Graham).
Craig’s film exhibits humanity and warmth that few films are able to achieve, with much of this success being attributed to the brilliant, Abby Ryder Fortson. There is a real found naturalism to many of the film’s performances, but it is Fortson who encapsulates the nervousness, joyousness and awkwardness that comes with childhood. Fortson provides one of the best lead performances of the year so far. Along with Rachel McAdams as Margaret’s mother, Barbara, the two provide touching, wholehearted performances that highlight a mother and daughter’s parallel connection through change and alienation. Through its sincerity, Craig provides a truly hilarious script, with much of the humour involving childish misunderstandings of puberty that make the characters even more endearing. Yet, Craig’s humour is double-edged, utilising older jokes in surprisingly emotional ways, with one scene involving Nancy in particular. Benny Safdie’s brief role as the dorky dad also provides some laughs, but it is the child ensemble that provide the most hilarity, with Norman (Simms May) and his dinner party being an adorable delight. Real care has been put into the film’s costume and production design, giving the film a transportive 70s aesthetic. Are You There God, is simply wonderful. The mother and daughter story at its core and the cute comedy that surrounds it, makes Craig’s film a charming, moving watch that beckons for a return to comedy for the whole family.