Thank God for a perfect Margaret

Friends united: Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) bonds with Janie (Amari Price), Nancy (Elle Graham) and Gretchen (Katherine Kupferer)

- Charlotte O’Sullivan

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret 

106mins, cert PG 

★★★★✩ 

IN certain UK schools the 1970 book behind this coming-of-age comedy was banned until the late Eighties. Author Judy Blume’s story is about Margaret Simon, a pre-teen who can’t wait to get her first period and has doubts (though is ever-hopeful) about organised religion.

All these years later, we get a lovely film that, despite being faithful to Bloom’s book, is unlikely to cause a stink. We’ve come a long way, baby. Let’s hope those Dark Ages never return.