Parents' Guide to Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

Writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig's delightful adaptation of Judy Blume's timeless tale is a nostalgic, relevant look at early adolescence, friendship, spirituality, and parent-child relationships. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret stays faithful to the classic source material but also freshens it up. The end result is entertaining and appropriate for both lifelong Blume devotees (looking at you, fellow Gen Xers) and a new generation of potential Margaret fans. Fortson is wonderful as Margaret, a curious and kind middle schooler who's just trying to find her way in the world. Kathy Bates is also fabulous as Margaret's brassy, Manhattan-dwelling grandmother, who misses being just blocks away from her beloved granddaughter. McAdams and Safdie have a surprising amount of chemistry as an interfaith couple whose difficult personal experiences led them to intentionally keep their daughter from knowing about religion rather than expose her to both of the faiths they were raised with -- or choose one for her.

Margaret's journey toward self-discovery is joyous, emotional, and funny. Most viewers will be able to relate to elements of the perspectives of the adult and/or the tween characters. Blume readers may find themselves laughing aloud as Margaret and her friends chant "I must, I must, I must increase my bust," or when Margaret gets her first kiss from the class's overly slick crush. Religion and puberty aren't always easy-to-navigate topics, but the movie, like the book, delves candidly into substantive issues without being preachy. The film honors Blume's frank approach to discussing periods, bras, health education, kissing, faith, and more. An ideal pick for parents and tweens/teens -- or for adults who grew up reading the book -- this movie proves that sometimes the right adaptation is worth the wait.