I’ve lost count of how many family-friendly stories Hollywood has ruined with its 21st-century “updates” and “modernizations.”
Netflix added same-sex content to “Anne with an E.” It added a transgender storyline to The Baby-Sitters Club. More recently, the BBC turned Marie Antoinette into a lesbian for a dramatic series, despite zero evidence that she was one. (Even mainstream historians are up in arms over that one.)
Sometimes, though, Hollywood gets it mostly right, such as in the new film “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” It’s based on a 1970 book by author Judy Blume that itself was controversial when it was released due to its frank discussion of female puberty and religion. In some locations, the book was even banned.
The film tells the story of a distraught sixth grade girl named Margaret who moves from the comfortable confines of New York City to a strange New Jersey neighborhood where she must make new friends at a new school. Her first friend is Nancy, a friendly-yet-blunt girl her age who invites Margaret over for a swim but immediately notices Margaret’s lack of growth. (“You’re still flat.”)
Soon, though, Nancy welcomes Margaret into her secret all-girls club where the four members agree to a few quirky requirements (they can’t wear socks) and a few more personal ones too. (Each girl must wear a bra and disclose to the others the moment she gets her first period.) Although none of the girls has fully entered puberty, all of them are longing for that day.
Confusion about religion
The backdrop to the film is Margaret’s confusion about religion. Although her mother is Christian and her father is Jewish, neither are practicing members of their faith. The plot grows more complex when Margaret’s well-meaning teacher urges her to write a paper about religion. (He did this only after she told him she hated religious holidays.) Margaret visits a Jewish service with her grandmother. She attends a Christian worship service with a classmate. Neither service, though, helps her decide.
Despite Margaret’s confusion about religion, she embraces prayer. We see her praying in her room. We hear her praying silently around her friends. For her first prayer, she asks God to keep her in New York. (“I’ve heard a lot of great things about You,” she prays. “I don’t want to move. I’ve never lived anywhere but the city.”) For her second prayer, she requests God’s guidance at school and for God to start growing her body. Usually, her prayers begin with a variation of the film’s title. (“Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret.”) I counted at least 10 prayers throughout the film.
Girl-centric plot
The movie nicely captures the awkwardness of a girl’s tween years without swerving into 21st-century controversies. No one changes genders. No one discusses same-sex attractions. (Margaret likes a boy named “Moose.”) Even though the film contains candid discussion about female puberty, it maintains an innocent look and feel that’s missing from most modern entertainment.
Even so, the film contains PG-13 content. Curious about their future physical appearance, the girls look at a Playboy magazine. (We don’t see what they see). We watch them look at a drawing of the male anatomy. (We do see that.) We hear about a girl who let a boy “feel her up.” We watch Margaret and a boy enter a closet, where he gives her a brief kiss on the lips. We also watch Margaret’s grandparents argue over religion. (The argument briefly causes her to abandon her search for God.) Then there’s the constant discussion of periods and puberty. It’s definitely a female-centric flick.
“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” isn’t fully family-friendly. But its promotion of prayer and its avoidance of controversial subjects is something we can embrace.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. is rated PG-13 for thematic material involving sexual education and some suggestive material. Coarse language: single misuse of “God” (2), OMG (5), GD (1), h-ll (1).
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