The Ultimate Triumph of Hollywood's Coming-of-Age Tale in 2023
In the heartfelt and captivating coming-of-age film Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, young protagonist Margaret (portrayed by Transparent star Abby Ryder Fortson) grapples with the complexities of growing up From the daunting prospect of relocating to a new town to her yearning to accelerate her journey into womanhood, Margaret's sincere and relatable journey beautifully unfolds in this 2023 Hollywood gem
This year's "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" is a sincere and delightful film that follows preteen Margaret (played by "Transparent" star Abby Ryder Fortson) as she confides in the divine about the challenges of growing up. These include the possibility of relocating to a new town and her strong desire to hurry through puberty and become a woman.
The movie is filled with poignant moments - making friends at a new school, spending time with grandma in the city - that come together to form a larger narrative. It taps into a recurring theme in entertainment this year: subtle, humorous, and heartfelt portrayals of the transition from childhood to adulthood, capturing all the awkwardness and joy that comes with it.
Of course, 2023 didn't invent the coming-of-age movie, but it certainly excelled at it. While this 70s-set adaptation of Judy Blume's novel could have easily veered into cheesy territory, "Margaret" remains disarming and authentic. Fortson's performance, along with Rachel McAdams' portrayal of her frazzled but well-meaning mother, and Kathy Bates as the overbearing grandmother, all contribute to the film's success.
Kathy Bates and Abby Ryder Fortson "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret."
Dana Hawley/Lionsgate
The captivating performances in Netflix's adaptation of Fiona Rosenbloom's 2005 novel "You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah" are a standout feature, effectively navigating through the challenges of nepotism to deliver an insightful portrayal of middle school social dynamics. With Adam Sandler serving as producer and co-star, alongside his daughters Sadie and Sunny Sandler, and wife Jackie, the film certainly has a strong family presence. However, the Sandler sisters' performances draw viewers into the storyline, allowing them to become immersed in the onscreen family dynamics and the challenges faced by Stacy (Sunny Sandler) when she is uninvited to her best friend's bat mitzvah due to a misunderstanding involving a cute boy at school.
Margot Robbie, left, and Ariana Greenblatt, front right, in "Barbie."
Warner Bros. Pictures
Stacy's familiar struggle to fit in at school brings the viewer along, evoking universal feelings of navigating shifting friend groups. "Bottoms" adds a raunchy yet clever twist, blending teen angst with "Fight Club" and a refreshing queer perspective, featuring the charming Rachel Sennott.
And then there's arguably the standout film of the year, "Barbie," featuring a very authentic and relatable character arc that provides a refreshing contrast to all the artificiality - notably the mature Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt), who has clearly moved past her Barbie phase and is navigating the complexities of her evolving identity. Alongside her mother who works at Mattel (America Ferrera), she encounters the living embodiment of the iconic doll (Margot Robbie). It is through Sasha and her mother's quest to create a secure and supportive environment for her growth that "Barbie" is able to convey its at times playful yet empowering feminist message.
Bella Ramsey in "The Last of Us."
Liane Hentscher/HBO
The trend of bullseye portraits of emerging adulthood went beyond movies this year, extending into the hit series "The Last of Us" and its portrayal of Pedro Pascal's character Joel as a father figure to Bella Ramsey's character, Ellie. In the episode "Left Behind," Ellie's backstory is explored in a bottle episode that feels more like a short film, depicting the same harsh social structures seen in high school movies. The episode also delves into Ellie's experiences with young love as she spends time with her friend Riley.
Similar to classic teen films such as "Heathers," "Clueless," and "Mean Girls," the main characters in this year's exceptional collection of coming-of-age stories, most of whom are female, navigate and grapple with the world around them while their identities are actively evolving. This allows for both awkward and humiliating encounters, as well as heart-pounding, blissful moments of first love - or something similar.
While not every project mentioned here may be as memorable as others once 2023 is in the past, the great thing is that films like "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" and "You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah" will always be accessible on their streaming platforms for young audiences to discover as they come of age.
Warner Bros. Pictures produced "Barbie," while Max produced "The Last of Us." Both companies are owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN's parent company. Alli Rosenbloom of CNN contributed to this story.
