13 Going On 30 (2004) Movie Information:

13 Going On 30 (2004) Directed by: Gary Winick 13 Going On 30 (2004) Written by: Josh Goldsmith, Cathy Yuspa 13 Going On 30 (2004) Cast: Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, Kathy Baker, Phil Reeves, Scout Taylor-Compton, Robinne Lee, Andy Serkis, Lynn Collins

13 Going On 30 (2004) U.S. Distributor: Columbia Pictures 13 Going On 30 (2004) U.K. Distributor: Not available at this time

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13 Going On 30 (2004) Synopsis:

On the eve of her 13th birthday, all Jenna Rink wants is to be pretty and popular. After a humiliating experience with the coolest kids in school, Jenna makes a desperate wish for a new life. Miraculously her wish comes true, but with one catch... she's only five days away from her 30th birthday. Jennifer Garner plays Jenna and Mark Ruffalo plays Garner's childhood friend and love interest. Judy Greer plays Lucy, Garner's best friend, Kathy Baker plays Garner's mother, Phil Reeves plays Garner's father, Andy Serkis portrays Garner's boss and Samuel Ball portrays Garner's boyfriend.

13 Going On 30 (2004) Movie Review:

For Jenna (Allen) growing up just couldn’t come quick enough so when thinks go drastically wrong on her 13th birthday, she makes a wish that she could be 30. The next morning she wakes up in a strange New York apartment, she has an ice hockey star as a boyfriend and she is hottest fashion editor in town. She isn’t little Jenna anymore, she’s thirty year-old Jenna Rink (Garner) New York’s latest success story.

Hating been a kid, wishing you were older and then waking up in the morning to find out that your wish has come true. Sound familiar?

‘13 Going On 30’ is simply ‘Big’ for girls but before you discount it as a way of cashing in on a idea that has been done to death over the years, this movie has one big plus point, Jennifer Garner. An actress who is known primarily for her action/drama roles shows her versatility as she excels in the lead role of Jenna. Garner breezes into the comedic, romantic lead with ease, capturing the innocence of the character superbly as she tries to fit into to the new millennium after literarily just stepping out of the 1980s. She effortlessly portrays the confused fish out of water with so much skill, it is hard to believe that you are watching the same person who plays Alias’s Sydney Bristow with such guile and strength.

Accompanying Jennifer in her comedy exploits is a very good supporting cast. Mark Ruffalo continues to excel be playing Jenna’s childhood best friend Matty, who feel out with her at high school. Matty is the insight into the seventeen years Jenna can’t remember and Ruffalo plays the part very well as the character’s feeling start flooding back. Judy Greer plays Lucy Wyman, Jenna’s high school rival but now best friend. She was a bitch at school and things don’t seem to have changed. Greer plays this character very well, making her instantly dislikeable. Andy Serkis continues to make waves with a good performance as Jenna editor at Poise magazine, Richard Kneeland.

The downside of the movie, aside from the glaringly obvious ‘Big’ comparisons is its complete girliness. This has to be one of the girliest movies you will ever see and it will be one that most people of the male persuasion will struggle to really enjoy, even if he is trying to impress on a first date for example. There are some funny elements, the Thriller dance is great but the ending is so sugary sweet that your teeth will feel like they are falling out of your head.

13 Going On 30 is a fun, sweet movie that every girl will love. This is a showcase for Jennifer Garner however that will put her in the leading lady super league and on this evidence it is a place where she deserves to be.

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13 Going On 30 (2004) review written by: Jamie Kelwick