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I'm glad I saw it, but expected MORE when I read critic reviews who were all IN. It's definitely a fun walk down memory lane to adolescence in the 1970's, but its relevance today escapes me, and I'm surprised it ever got made for that reason. I compliment the young actress, who played Margaret. Other actors, like Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates were under-challenged in their roles. Plot mixture of adolescent angst & religious choice was awkward, so neither got the attention it deserved. And, Kathy Bates character as Jewish grandmother was stereotypical and heavy-handed. She's a better actor when she plays closer to home. Go see if nothing better.

We loved The Fabelman's, thank you Steven Spielberg for sharing your coming-of-age story. I recommend it highly for any movie fan who treasures well-crafted films showcasing believable writing and superb acting, especially by Michelle Williams as Mom, and Paul Dano as mature son, Sammy Fabelman, aka Spielberg. Every scene in this movie shows the creativity and humor of its director, Spielberg, who, following a lifetime of creative genius in entertaining us with amazing movies to enjoy over and over- reveals some of the family and other obstacles he went through to get there. We watched the dreary Golden Globes show only to see if he would win Best Director for Fabelmans, and he did!

Based on a popular novel with an intriguing storyline, this could have been a smashing film if it had been constructed better. It lacks intensity by not showing the devastating results of being an abandoned child, lonely, scared and hungry. It seems to gloss over all of that, and so we miss her transformation because she's shown as always being all right. I would have loved to see a wild child as main actor exhibiting all the angst of being unloved, and then she transforms in to a strong woman.

Getting back to my headline, there is beautiful photography and a sense of nature we don't often see.