Release Date: April 23, 2004
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some sexual content and brief drug references
Directed by: Gary Winick
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, Kathy Baker, Phil Reeves, Andy Serkis, Samuel Ball, Kiersten Warren

Plot:
It is 1987 and Jenna is a 13-year-old girl on the brink of womanhood. The problem is that adulthood is just not arriving fast enough. She's suffocated by her dorky parents, ignored by the hip kids in school--and the cute guy she has a crush on barely knows her name. No longer content to spend time only with her best friend and neighbor, Matt Flamhaff, Jenna invites the cool kids to her 13th birthday party. But the party is a disaster. Jenna is humiliated when she's locked in the closet for a game of "Seven Minutes in Heaven" and everyone deserts her. Alone in the closet, Jenna makes an earnest wish. If only she could be all grown up, she'd have the life she's always wanted. Miraculously, her wish comes true. The next day, when Jenna emerges from the closet, it's 2004 and she's 30 years old. What's more, she is a gorgeous successful woman with a great job and a fabulous Fifth Avenue apartment. She is finally cool and popular. The only hitch? She has absolutely no id! ea how she got there. Initially frightened but gradually enchanted by her new life, Jenna soon realizes there's something missing--Matt. When she looks him up, she is horrified to discover that she and Matt are no longer in contact and, furthermore, he is engaged to be married. Jenna learns that 'having it all' is not enough and decides to take a second chance at first love. Now her biggest wish is that it's not too late.

Review:
Hollywood loves to deliver romantic comedies and some that are predictable and rehashes of other films. 13 Going On 30 is the latest for romantic comedies sake and star of Alias, Jennifer Garner plays the lead role in the film. Many can compare this film to Big which features a plot that is very alike. The target for this film is mainly children from ten to twelve years old and teenagers from thirteen to sixteen years old.

13 Going On 30 opens with a young thirteen year old who is playing Garner when she just turned thirteen. From its opening scene, this film seems very childish and too over the top for its own good. That could be so, but it adjusts itself once the thirteen year old becomes Jennifer Garner. Does it become a delightful and incredibly funny film, somewhat, but not enough to be completely entertained.

This film is a very fifty-fifty film and by that I mean half of it works, but the other half doesn't. There isn't enough strong laughs to say its an acceptable comedy. Besides Garner, the film stars Andy Serkis who provided the voice of Gollum for the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. He plays Garner's boss and does a decent job and provides the audience with a few laughs.

There is plenty of silliness to be found in this film. Some of it actually works and it is very effective and a portion falls flat and doesn't do good to the film at all. This is of course a script problem which cannot be claimed solid by any standards. The film feels empty and more should have been accomplished by Garner's character besides trying to get Mark Ruffalo who plays Matt Flamhaff.

To add to that, it almost seems like the direction Gary Winick took for 13 Going On 30 is a very lazy one. He certainly does a good job of placing all the attention on Garner's character and that succeeds. However, there are punch lines that don't succeed and storylines that shouldn't have been involved. With a film as fun as this, you'd expect for a director to make it with colorful schemes and overly fun ways of odd matters.

The music in this film is amazing and features many 80's songs which is enjoyable by many. There is Madonna, Michael Jackson and many other artists who were big in the 80's. Kids and their parents can have quite a ball getting up of their seats and dancing to the funky beats. Then again, that would be very awkward, but that's exactly what the music in this film will make you too. Definitely part of the delight you will receive is from the music itself.

When you look at this film as a whole, there is some moments of originality and laughs no doubt. More of it would have made this film a must see comedy, but instead its somewhat of a disappointment. Even with it being slightly disappointed, its still extremely fun and while I am stating its problems, any young child is going to have a great time and hats the truth.

To say Jennifer Garner gives a decent performance in this film is understating things. If there was ever an award for a woman who best portrayed the mind of a thirteen year old girl, Garner would not only be nominated, but she would mostly likely win as well. This has to do mostly with the way she actually is. In interviews, one can clearly see that Garner has a hyper, young and somewhat immature personality and it works with this film.

Its present all throughout that 13 Going On 30 is flawed. Flawed, but Garner is incredibly charming and sweet that it still draws attention. So indeed I would recommend Jennifer Garner to any fan out there, but unfortunately this film falls short of a solidly romantic comedy. With that said, fans of Garner should definitely see it and I enjoyed most of this film.

13 Going On 30 overall has its moments where it glows and shines, mainly because of Jennifer Garner. Garner takes the lead role and is the most entertaining piece of its entirety. While the films direction and its script featured some lame situations at times, it indeed brought the films wholesomeness a notch down. However, there is still plenty of enjoyment from Garner to the music and to the films point that if you are looking for a fun and charming film, go ahead and check out 13 Going On 30. The film will please, but those who are mixed should rent it instead.