Every time I start this blog, it seems to involve a constant apology and a vow to write it more. However, this recent hiatus has been caused by being unwell. By chance, my most recent bout of illness came the day after TomCruiseFansOfScientologyFilms invited me over for dinner and we had vegan meatballs. I asked them for the recipe as it was a good meal and olive branch between me and Mr Cruise who has become villain of the blog in 2023. He said of course you can have the recipe. I haven’t had a chance to recreate it yet. I just need tofu, soy sauce, arsenic and pasta. Maybe Mr Cruise knew I’m allergic to soy sauce.
Alas, I have recovered now and am looking forward to more cinematic endeavours which started with my my recent outing to Harbour Lights in S*uthampton to watch “Are you there God, it’s me Margaret”. Hopefully this film would be as satisfying as playing Status Quo’s Down Down when driving past Saint Mary’s stadium.
Well, while nothing can compare to the enjoyment of your local city rival’s demise, AYTGIMM does certainly leave you smiling as a warm hug of a film. Based on the famous book my Julie Bloom, the film is a sweet, almost awkward, coming of age film about 11-year-old Margaret Simon, a young girl whose concerned about growing up, her changing body and her relationship with God (as she has a Jewish father and Christian mother). Heavy, right? Well no, this is one of the warmest comedies out there which will leave you with a beaming smile as the credits roll.
Margaret moves from New York to suburban New Jersey. She meets Nancy from the big house down the road who introduces her to a secret gang where they talk about their changing bodies, with conversations around boobs and who will have their periods first. These chats has a comedic overtone as well as some more out there moments. As well as discussing these, this group has almost a Mean Girls vibes as they almost judge one another and part of building themselves up is knocking one another down and not discussing the insecurities they privately share, with Nancy very much playing the Regina George role.
Speaking of Regina George, there are other changes these characters have to deal with as Margaret’s mother (Played by Regina George actress Rachel McAdams) has to deal with the changes in her life in a new place, and her estranged parents, while the grandmother played brilliantly by Cathy Bates has to deal with her family moving away and her changes in life. Both side plots feel never over-bearing but aren’t the main reason you’re there. These stories all lead to a confrontation amongst everyone about religion and what Margaret’s identity is.
With such taboo cinema subjects as puberty and periods, there was a risk the film would be really awkward. However, with its PG BBFC certificate, the film never felt that way at all, with emotional moments packing a punch and the funny moments came with such an innocence you almost felt like you were laughing with the film makers and the characters at the ridiculousness, as opposed to at them. This can only really be achieved by a film having such a warm heart. The silliness is embraced, as the children look at their dad’s playboy magazine and ask if they will look like that when they’re nineteen, then throw their arms back in an exercise shouting “We must, we must, we must increase our bust”. It’s nonsense which is brought to a plausible extreme as it deals with universal themes of insecurity around the body. While this film is primarily made for young girls and their mums, it’s one where the themes will resonate with everybody no matter what and you’ll be able to connect.
More power to women for having films which unapologetically show their stories.
The Film Ramble 