Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (2023)

Set in 1970, an 11 year old girl (Abby Ryder Fortson) is uprooted from her New York City home when her parents (Rachel McAdams, Benny Safdie) move to the suburbs of New Jersey. Dealing with new friends, a new school and the onset of puberty overwhelms her as she struggles to adjust to life outside the big city. Based on the best selling novel by Judy Blume and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig (EDGE OF SEVENTEEN). Since it was first published in 1970, Blume has had many offers to turn her book into a movie but she turned them all down. Thankfully, she waited until the right people made an offer. A coming of age story about an 11 year girl wasn't the most appealing sounding movie to me but I was quickly taken in by this charming and unsentimental look at the travails of adolescence. The film tackles some serious subjects (such as how religion too often divides people rather than bringing them together) but Craig's direction and screenplay neatly balance the humor and the pain of adolescence without the mawkishness to often prevalent in such endeavors. It felt sincere and real. The cast is excellent especially Rachel McAdams as the mother. Alas, despite critical acclaim, audiences stayed away. Definitely worth seeking out. With Kathy Bates, Elle Graham and Echo Kellum.