Judging by the audience's reaction to 13 Going on 30, I can say with some confidence that this movie is going to be a big hit. And should it strike a chord with audiences, I will have no complaints. 13 Going on 30 is one of the most enjoyable movies to hit theatres this Spring, and is likely to catapult its star -- Jennifer Garner -- into Hollywood’s elite A-list.
13 Going on 30 is a film in the vein of such recent hits as the equally delightful Freaky Friday and the classic 80’s hit Big, in which a person (or people, in the case of Freaky Friday) suddenly finds themselves in the body of their older self (or in the body of a family-member, again, with Freaky Friday). In 13 Going on 30, that person is Jenna Rink. As the movie opens, we meet the shy and geeky Jenna who wants desperately to fit in with the “cool” crowd. It’s Jenna’s 13th birthday party, and when the “cool” kids ditch, she blames her best friend Matty and wishes desperately to be thirty. (Why 30? Well, Jenna just finished reading an article in her favorite magazine, “Poise”: “Thirty, Flirty, and Fabulous.”) To her surprise, when she roles out of bed the next morning, she isn’t 13 year old Jenna living with her parents; she is 30 year old Jenna rolling out of bed in her swank Manhattan apartment. After making a few discoveries about her new life (she is an editor as “Poise”!) and jumping a few hurdles (a strange man in her shower -- actually her boyfriend), Jenna seeks out Matty (played as an adult by the In the Cut and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind star, Mark Ruffalo) and eventually comes to the realization that not only are her and Matty not friends anymore, but she hasn’t become a very nice person. So Jenna sets out to win back Matty, and hopefully make a few things right in the process.
The moniker “romantic-comedy” gets thrown around a lot, but rarely is it true about a movie. More often than not, the romance will work and the comedy will fail or vice-versa. (A perfect example of one such failure was Along Came Polly, in which the comedy worked great but the romance fizzled.) One of the things that makes 13 Going on 30 such a success is that both parts of the title work exceedingly well! Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo have tremendous chemistry, and the romantic scenes are written well, especially those near the conclusion. When my heart wasn’t fluttering though, I was laughing...very loudly. Surprising to me was how funny 13 Going on 30 is! Several lines and scenes are guaranteed to bring the house down, including a “thrillingly” hilarious group-dance sequence. Numerous references to the 80‘s (which is the current “decade de jour“), including the entire first 10 minutes of the movie, work very well with today’s pop culture.
Some movies trail-blaze new themes and genres, and then others travel familiar paths. 13 Going on 30 travels a very familiar path. In many ways, it’s more of a starring vehicle for Garner than unique and quality film-making. As I alluded to earlier, 13 Going on 30 is basically a modern-update of Big, with a female protagonist. Despite the unoriginal origin, 13 Going on 30 is still successful, as it navigates a proven formula with positive results. 13 Going on 30 is kind of like Kool-Aid; we have all had it, but when its made right, it sure tastes damn good and refreshing.
Only weeks ago, Jamie Lee Curtis was honored with a 2003 Oliver Award nomination for Best Actress for her work in Freaky Friday. Even though it’s early in the year, there is a good chance that you may see Jennifer Garner’s name listed among those nominated for the 2004 Oliver Award, as she gives an outstanding performance in which she expertly melds comedy and drama. With her cult-hit TV show “Alias,” Garner has been on the cusp of the A-list for a few years, and I believe it will be this performance and this movie which will push her over the mark. She will most certainly leave her mark (in a good way!) on the brains of all who see 13 Going on 30. In fact, Garner’s pout has screen presence not seen since the “Julia Roberts cackle/toothy smile!” The supporting cast -- which includes Ruffalo, and Judy Greer as the heavy -- do a credible job, but we all know this is Garner’s show.
It is unlikely that anyone (including myself) will call this movie original. But what it lacks in originality, it makes up for in solid enjoyment. Jennifer Garner is terrific in what is sure to be her star-making role, and the writing is genuinely funny! I truly mean it when I say that I laughed, I cried, and I swooned! But most of all, I left the theatre well-entertained, and beyond that, what more can I ask for?
Grade: A-
© 2004 Jacob Sproul
April 2004 Archive
2004 Archive
Main Archive