Jason's Review of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. 2023 ★★★★½

Watched Apr 28, 2023

Might very well be one of the best movies about being a kid I’ve seen. Next time I might give it 5, we’ll see.

Honestly, I can’t think of a single thing to criticize, except for maybe the super-clichéd use of Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky.” Seriously, it’s a great song and all, but does Norman Greenbaum have some kind of deal that requires that song to be used in literally any movie that takes place in the ‘70s, if only to signal “this is the ‘70s!”

The story is beautifully simple and deeply profound at the same time. Abby Ryder Fortson is outstanding in the title role (Margaret, not God), and Rachel McAdams and Benny Safdie are wonderful as her parents. Completely believable and truly lovely family vibe they create. And this might be the best that Kathy Bates has been since Misery!

Literally nothing but positives here. This is only Kelly Fremon Craig’s second film as director (after The Edge of Seventeen) and she’s already made two of the best movies about adolescence in the last decade. That’s awesome!

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