Blume’s Margaret shines on the big screen

Almost since the day it was published in 1970, author Judy Blume had resisted constant entreaties and o ers to bring her best-selling novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. to the screen (both big and small) yet steadfastly refused. After more than five decades, she consented and the property fell into the capable hands of screenwriter/producer/ director Kelly Fremon Craig, under the auspices of Oscar-winning producer James L. Brooks.

Any concerns that the screen version of Margaret would feel dated are quickly dispelled. Although the setting is 1970, the themes of the film are timeless and universal. They could just as easily have happened in 1980 or 1990 or, for that matter, 2023 — and in almost any culture or language. Then again, that’s a big reason that Blume’s book has retained its popularity all this time.

Of course, there are those “enlightened” — and that term is used with utmost sarcasm — observers who have repeatedly tried to challenge or, sometimes successfully, to have the book banned outright, about which no more need be said. Besides, over the years Blume has said plenty about the controversy.

A major component for the film’s success, if not the main component, is the enormously appealing and empathetic performance of Abby Ryder Fortson in the title role. She never makes a false move as the character embarks, not always gracefully, on her journey of self-discovery. Having recently moved from New York City to the suburbs of New Jersey with her mother (Rachel McAdams) and father (Benny Safdie), she’s thrust into a whole new world, and ready or not, here she comes.

As an only child, whose mother is Catholic and her father Jewish, Margaret’s search for identity sees her periodically confessing her insecurities to the Almighty (hence the title of the book and film). She and her friends are in a rush to “grow up,” without quite grasping what growing up is all about. There’s the growing attraction to boys, menstruation, training bras, a desperate need to belong — and all the confusion in between. These are themes that anyone can identify with, whatever their age or gender — and Craig conveys them in a sincere and heartfelt fashion.

Craig fashions a convincing if somewhat gauzy, portrayal of the era. There are the requisite period trappings, as well as a smattering of chart-topping tunes from the time, but the narrative is completely focused on Margaret and her immediate environment. There’s no mention of Vietnam or Kent State or Richard Nixon or the moon landing that took place in 1969. Nor does there need to be. These are not issues that directly concern Margaret and therefore might have been a distraction to the story at hand.

McAdams, whose resemblance to Julia Roberts has never been more striking, plays Margaret’s mother, Barbara, struggling to adjust to being a suburban housewife. She has some good scenes, but those that don’t necessarily include Margaret seem a bit extraneous. Safdie, better known as an acclaimed filmmaker collaborating with his brother Josh (Good Time, Uncut Gems) plays Margaret’s dot- ing dad Herb. As Margaret’s blowsy Jewish grandmother, Kathy Bates assumes a role that would have once been played by Shelley Winters or Lainie Kazan. She’s showy but never overpowering. She’s there not to steal Forston’s scenes, but to enhance them.

In following Blume’s novel so closely, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. is inescapably episodic, with some sequences ending abruptly (almost interrupting the laugh) and some initially pivotal characters receding into the background. These include Elle Graham, Katherine Kupferer, and newcomer Amari Price as Margaret’s new clique of friends, and Echo Kellum as Mr. Benedict, their lovable if slightly bumbling sixth-grade teacher. It might have been nice to see a bit more of them, but they each make their mark.

Nevertheless, it’s Fortman who makes her mark here. Above all, Margaret is her triumph. !

See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies. © 2023, Mark Burger.

The Sportscenter Athletic Club is a private membership club dedicated to providing the ultimate athletic and recreational facilities for our members of all ages. Conveniently located in High Point, we provide a wide variety of activities for our members. We’re designed to incorporate the total fitness concept for maximum benefits and total enjoyment. We cordially invite all of you to be a part of our athletic facility, while enjoying the membership savings we offer our established corporate accounts.

Weekly Specials

MON: $2 Domestic Bottles & All Burgers $9.99

TUE: 1/2 Price Wine | WED: $3 Draft

THU: $6 Bud Light Pitchers & $3 Fireball

BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Bright Idea

Eco-activist Rob Greenfield has stopped using toilet paper, and he wants you to, too. People reported on May 4 that Greenfield is touring the country as part of his Grow Your Own Toilet Paper Initiative, introducing people to the blue spur flower plant. The leaves are “soft as can be,” he said. “They’re durable. I call them the Charmin of the garden.” Greenfield sets up a compost toilet in a busy area and gives his spiel: “Hey, did you know you can grow your own toilet paper? I want to show people that another way is possible. We just buy (toilet paper) at the store and we never think twice about it.” Each leaf is about the size of a piece of toilet paper, and the plant supplies an abundance of them. They can’t be flushed, but they can be thrown in the trash or buried in the yard. Passersby who get sucked in will also hear Greenfield’s views on composting human waste rather than using flush toilets.

Fine Points Of The Law

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled on May 3 that a man who was serving eight to 12 years in prison did not, after all, commit a burglary. In September 2020, Donald Bertram approached the home of Timothy Hu as Hu was working in his yard, The Columbus Dispatch reported. Bertram walked into Hu ’s open garage, picked up a $500 leaf blower, got in his car and drove away. But the court said that because Bertram committed the act without “force, stealth or deception,” it wasn’t a burglary. Instead, justices told Scioto County Common Pleas Court that he could be charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing. Sentences for misdemeanors typically result in less than a year in jail.

AWESOME!

Recurring Theme

It’s happened again. Minnesota state Sen. Calvin Bahr of East Bethel garnered some unwanted attention on May 1 after he cast a vote via Zoom — camera on, lying shirtless in bed with, inexplicably, an “I’m Just a Bill” character from “Schoolhouse Rock!” on the wall behind him. The Associated Press reported that immediately after casting his vote, Bahr switched o his camera.

Suspicions Confirmed

On April 29 in Groningen, the Netherlands, police pulled over a driver who had mowed down a post on a sidewalk, Oddity Central reported. The unnamed 35-yearold man refused a breath test, but he did produce a Ukrainian driver’s license with a familiar name and photo: Boris Johnson, the former prime minister of the United Kingdom. The license had Johnson’s correct date of birth but had an expiration date of 3000. Apparently, such fake licenses are popular at Ukrainian souvenir shops.

Least Competent Criminals

The BBC reported on May 4 that three burglars broke into a shoe store in Huancayo, Peru, in the middle of the night and made o with 200 shoes. Unfortunately for them, they were all right shoes. Surveillance video captured them using a tricycle to remove the boxed shoes. The shop owner estimated the value at more than $13,000, although the thieves may have trouble selling the shoes for only one foot. The local police chief was confident that they would be caught.

News That Sounds Like A Joke

1232 NORTH MAIN STREET, HIGH POINT, NC 27262

WWW.SWEETOLDBILLS.COM | (336) 807-1476

MONDAY-THURSDAY 11AM-10 PM | FRIDAY-SATURDAY 11AM-11PM

SUNDAY 11AM-8PM | BRUNCH 11AM-2PM

From the too-good-to-pass-up file: Photographer Ken Pretty of Dildo, Newfoundland, had the extraordinary luck on April 27 to capture a 30-foot-tall iceberg floating in Conception Bay. (Nearby towns include Spread Eagle and Placentia.) Live Science reported that the berg, “a column with a domed head protruding up from two oval rafts of ice,” resembled a phallus.

“I knew I’d get a lot of comments,” Pretty said, “but I didn’t expect this much.”

Sadly, the “dickie berg,” as locals named it, didn’t last: It collapsed the next day.

Akron (Ohio) Municipal Court Judge Ron Cable made a couple’s dreams come true on May 4 as he o ciated a “Star Wars”-themed wedding, the Associated Press reported. Julia and Robert Jones said when they heard about the special ceremonies, “There was no other right decision. That was it.” They joined six other couples in 15-minute wedding ceremonies at the Highland Universal Gathering Spot in Akron. Julia and Robert took the theme to the next level, wearing Sith and Jedi robes and carrying lightsabers. “By the joining of the lightsabers,” Cable intoned, “and by the giving and receiving of rings,” he pronounced them husband and wife. “May the Force be with you.” !

©2023 Andrews McMeel Universal

56 Vatican VIP

57 Not distributed, as cards

59 One working to take control 65 Actress — Dawn Chong 66 Mean Amin 68 Lucy’s Desi 69 Dog types 70 City west of Lake Superior 74 Freely

Book Openings

77 “Guys and Dolls” song

78 Meadowland

79 Punch sound

82 Narrative at the start of the Bible

85 Sportsperson

88 Ship’s frame

89 Cry on “The Simpsons”

90 Biblical verb ending

92 Big blood line

93 Sinuous fish

94 Small pellets for air guns

96 Famous 1804 duel

100 High-school jrs.’ exam

102 Billy portrayed by Brad Pitt in “Moneyball”

104 Swelled head

105 Los Angeles neighborhood

109 Tranquilize

115 Brazilian berry in juices

116 “Eat — eaten” (law of survival)

117 Lister’s abbr.

119 “How Do I Live” singer LeAnn

120 Mint family herb

122 What the first words of eight long answers in this puzzle are

127 Crawl

128 Ready to go

129 Thorn in one’s side

130 Ibsen’s “— Gabler”

131 Family tree females

132 Have faith in

1 Black key above A

2 Justice Samuel

3 Musical steps

4 — -pocus

5 Feel blindly

6 Poking tool

7 Earthy colors

8 One who used to be in the club

9 Dogma suffix

10 “Homeland” airer, for short

11 Rowing tool

12 Of a wedding

13 Southwestern tribe

14 Past artifact

15 Panther, e.g.

16 Not fully aged

17 Hot-and-cold dessert

18 PR concern

19 Juice cleanse, e.g. 24 She-sheep 29 Render null 32 Quarterback Marino 34 IRS datum 35 — Paulo 36 “Son of,” in Arab names

Rx

With 42-Down, restau