13 Going On 30 Reviewed

By Lene Maria Aug 5, 2004, 16:44 GMT

Most people wish they could go back to their younger years, do things through again but for 13 year old Jenna Rink she wants to be older right away, specifically she wants to be 30 and just like the pretty women in her favorite fashion magazine Poise "thirty, flirty and thriving." Her wish is granted after a humiliating experience at her 13th birthday party due to a trick played on her by the "six chicks" the popular group of girls that she wants to be a part of. Young Jenna Rink wakes up 17 years later with the body and life of an adult but the mind of her 13-year-old self and with no clue as to what's happened since her birthday. "13 Going On 30", directed by Gary Winick, is a fun and light heartened comedy that will have you leaving the cinema smiling and feeling good. There are quite a few very laughable moments in the film, possibly the most prominent and memorable part being during the "Thriller" sequence when Jenna brings some life back into a rapidly dying party by dancing to the song, and dragging a highly apprehensive grown up Matt, her old best friend, into the mix. As the film progresses Jenna realizes that her wonderful adult life is not all it has cracked up to be, she finds out that she has changed completely. She is also now best friends with the once leader of the "six chicks", she succeeded in joining the group after her birthday, at the expense of Matt, who she barely spoke to after that. Jenna is the kid but no one else believes that when she tells them, that is quite possibly one of the draw backs - she can't remember anything yet no one tries to find out why, they don't take it seriously. But then if that did happen the film wouldn't be a comedy anymore. Jennifer Garner is great as the older Jenna; she brings charm, innocence and believability to the role. A small case in point being near the end of the film when she and Matt are at the park at night, where in another romantic comedy it would turn into a more serious moment, the perfectly timed and out of the blue comment of "you've got arm hair" reminds everyone that she is still a kid at heart and in mind. Jenna discovers the wonders of having a great apartment, a perfect job, and more shoes and clothes than she could have imagined - while finding out that she isn't actually liked anymore, and she hasn't spoken to her parents in a long time, a couple of the things that she sets about changing. Garner and Ruffalo (Matt) work well together on screen and hats off also to Christa B. Allen and Sean Marquette who play young Jenna and Matt. It is a film to see when you get the chance, and it isn't just a chick flick; guys will like it too.