Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret

The film adaptation of Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret primarily serves to prove the enduring relevance of its source material after more than a half-century.

This crowd-pleasing retelling of Judy Blume’s seminal coming-of-age novel of female adolescent anxiety and empowerment is bursting with nostalgic charm, even if its central conflicts feel too safe and subdued by contemporary standards.

Set it 1970, it tells a story of self-discovery and spiritual awakening for Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson), an 11-year-old only child struggling to cope after moving from New York to suburban New Jersey with her parents, Barbara (Rachel McAdams) and Herb (Benny Safdie).

While her father works and her mother becomes over-involved in the PTA, Margaret finds her social circle thanks to Nancy (Elle Graham), an outspoken neighbor and classmate who is eager to sprout breasts and pursue boys.

Meanwhile, she takes up prayer as a verbal diary of sorts, even though she’s been raised agnostic. When she starts asking questions, Margaret learns that religion is a thorny subject, with Barbara from a devout Christian family and Herb having Jewish roots. Margaret’s doting paternal grandmother (Kathy Bates) would love to recruit her but doesn’t want to push her away.

Gently amusing and quietly perceptive, the screenplay by director Kelly Fremon Craig (The Edge of Seventeen) treats the book with affectionate reverence, although its progressive subject matter hardly pushes the envelope these days.

After all, talking openly about menstruation, bras, and preteen relationships might have been shocking on the page 50 years ago, but it feels tame on the screen today.

Still, many of the themes are as timely as ever, focusing on how small yet significant changes and curiosities — from body image to family strife to peer pressure — fuel insecurities in otherwise outgoing and precocious youngsters.

An expressive performance by Fortson (Ant-Man and the Wasp) enables us to view the world through Margaret’s eyes, even those outside the target demographic. The other characters are relatable, too, with Bates stealing her scenes as the acerbic yet compassionate granny.

The film generally lacks the subtlety and nuance to translate the novel’s deeper emotional impact. Yet like its title character, Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret finds strength in embracing its awkwardness and poking fun at vulnerability, with the right balance of laughs and heart.

Rated PG-13, 106 minutes.