There are coming-of-age movies that feel like they’re trying very hard to tell you what growing up is supposed to feel like, and then there are movies like Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret that simply understand it. Kelly Fremon Craig’s adaptation of Judy Blume’s beloved novel is funny, sweet, awkward, honest, and surprisingly emotional. It captures that strange period of life when you’re not quite a child anymore but certainly aren’t ready to be an adult, when every little problem feels like the biggest thing in the world.
What I love most about the movie is how much it respects Margaret as a character. She’s not treated like a miniature adult, and the questions she has about friendship, family, puberty, religion, and growing up are never dismissed as silly. Abby Ryder Fortson is wonderful in the lead, giving Margaret a naturalness that makes it incredibly easy to connect with her. Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, and Benny Safdie are equally strong, creating a family dynamic that gives the movie considerably more emotional weight than you might expect from a coming-of-age story.
The film also looks fantastic on 4K UHD. Presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the new 2160p presentation gives the movie a clean, natural, and highly detailed appearance. The digital photography is exceptionally crisp without becoming overly clinical, with facial details, clothing textures, household interiors, and the various period-specific production details all benefiting from the increased resolution. The movie’s 1970s setting has a warm, inviting visual character, and the 4K presentation handles those colors beautifully.
The expanded dynamic range gives the image a little more depth as well. Skin tones remain natural, colors are nicely balanced, and highlights have additional refinement without appearing artificially boosted. The suburban environments, bedrooms, school hallways, and family interiors all have a wonderful amount of texture, making this a very pleasing presentation from start to finish. The movie’s visual style isn’t flashy, and that’s exactly what I want from a film like this. It isn’t trying to overwhelm you with elaborate cinematography or excessive HDR effects. Instead, the 4K presentation simply gives the photography the clarity and dimensionality it deserves while maintaining the warm, nostalgic feeling of the original film.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret was already one of those movies I found difficult not to like, but revisiting it in 4K reminded me why it works so well. It isn’t trying to manufacture huge dramatic moments. Instead, it finds emotion in the small things: an awkward conversation, a friendship changing, a daughter trying to understand her mother, or a young girl simply trying to figure out what she believes.
That’s what makes the film so timeless. The details may belong to the 1970s, but the emotions don’t. Margaret’s questions about who she is, where she belongs, and what she believes are universal, and the movie handles all of them with an honesty that I really appreciate. This new 4K release is an excellent way to revisit it. The image is clean, detailed, warm, and natural, the audio presentation is strong, and the collection of extras makes this a very satisfying package. It may not be the kind of release that screams for reference-disc status, but it doesn’t need to be. This is a beautiful movie that has been given the kind of presentation it deserves.
For fans of Judy Blume, coming-of-age movies, or simply heartfelt filmmaking, this one is an easy recommendation.
Have you seen it yet? Are you a fan of this movie? Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Cheers,
Matt.
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