When her family moves from New York City to New Jersey, an 11-year-old girl navigates new friends, feelings, and the beginning of adolescence.
Abby Ryder Fortson
Margaret Simon
Rachel McAdams
Barbara Simon
Kathy Bates
Sylvia Simon
Elle Graham
Nancy Wheeler
Benny Safdie
Herbert Simon
Amari Alexis Price
Janie Loomis
Katherine Mallen Kupferer
Gretchen Potter
Kate MacCluggage
Mrs. Jan Wheeler
Aidan Wojtak-Hissong
Moose Freed
Landon S. Baxter
Evan Wheeler
Echo Kellum
Mr. Benedict
Mia Dillon
Mary Hutchins
Gary Houston
Paul Hutchins
Mackenzie Joy Potter
Mamma Bunny
Olivia Williams
Witch
Mike Platarote Jr.
Guy in Car
Simms May
Norman Fisher
Zack Brooks
Philip Leroy
JeCobi Swain
Freddy Barnett
Wilbur Fitzgerald
Morris Binamin
Ethan McDowell
Mr. Wheeler
Sloane Warren
Mrs. Fisher
Isol Young
Laura Danker
Eden Lee
PTA Mother
Naida Nelson
PTA Mother
Tahirah Harrison
PTA Mother
Zach Humphrey
Salvation Army Guy
Karen Aruj
Department Store Sales Lady
Judy Blume
Neighbor Walking Dog #1
George Cooper
Neighbor Walking Dog #2
Joan Jackson
Neighbor
Stephen Jackson
Neighbor
Robert Haulbrook
Rough Looking Guy on Bus
Johnny Land
The General
Jennifer Errington
New York Restaurant Waitress
Evan Bergman
Greg the Greeter
Michael Wolk
Rabbi Kellerman
Karen Macarah
Cantor
Ariel DiDonato
Aliyah
Claude Deuce
Gospel Singer / Pastor
Keya Hamilton
Gospel Singer
Tanya J. McClellan
Mrs. Loomis
Dennis Delamar
Mailman
Samantha LeBrocq
Mrs. Potter
Wally White
Protestant Minister
Holli Saperstein
Mrs. Webster
Deborah Helms
Sweet Old Lady Cashier
Cooper Herrett
17 Year Old Cashier
Gezell Fleming
School Librarian
Jim France
Catholic Priest
Rakeem Massingill
Art Student
Director, Writer
Kelly Fremon Craig
Novel
Judy Blume
May 24, 2023
7
The engaging Abby Ryder Fortson is on strong form here as the eponymous girl who finds herself shifted by her parents to live across the Hudson in New Jersey. Now they are an happy family: mum "Barbara" (Rachel McAdams) and dad "Herb" (Benny Safdie) that is egged on now and again by her favourite, and mischievous, grandmother "Sylvia" (Kathy Bates). New house, new school, new friends and quickly settling in, she joins a secret club with three other girls and what now ensues is a rather poignant and entertaining coming-of-age tale as the girls compete with each other for just about everything from the cute "Philip" (Zack Brooks) to which of them has their first period or wears their first bra. I suspect this may well resonate more with girls than boys, but that doesn't compromise it's potency. These girls reflect behaviour and attitudes that could almost certainly be found in most schools around any country. The introduction of her conversations with God (her parents are a non-practising Jew and Christian respectively so she's been left to be undecided on the issue) upon whom she is relying to help her avoid disaster, get the boy and vent her frustrations become more relatable as the film proceeds. It's got a little unwelcome melodrama, but Kathy Bates manages to keep that under control with a punchy series of short but impactful contributions and the whole thing is effectively kept on an even keel by an enjoyable effort from McAdams. The pacing and the writing are solid with some pithily apposite observations, and by the end I was just grateful that my hormones have long since given up the ghost!
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$30,000,000.00
Revenue:
$21,800,000.00