Rating: 
Summary: An entertaining, funny flick that oversteps its shortcomings
Review: I'll be honest. I really don't expect much from 'these kinds' of movies, so occasionally one of them does take me by surprise by being fantastic (i.e. - Freaky Friday last year, which would have made my Top 10 list had I not seen it so late). 13 Going on 30 gets really close to "fantastic" in quite a few moments, but has enough uneven little slips of narrative to put it in "cute" category. But let's get this straight - it's cute as hell, and enjoyable too. I'm not going to sit and rehash the plot because just about everyone knows that it's loosely based on the concept of Big - but the movie takes an added step in a great direction by forming that setup into an often intelligent meditation on those moments in life that everyone wishes to "redo." Jennifer Garner is cloying in the movie's opening stretch, but then settles perfectly into the role of Jenna, a 13-year-old girl who wishes to be 30 and then magically zooms ahead 17 years. Mark Ruffalo is great as usual in the role of Matt, a former childhood pal who resurfaces after all those years. I want to sit and nitpick on a few moments of the movie that had me rolling the eyes and I want to say that there's better stuff out there right now, so don't waste your time...but 30 really pulls out the stops and makes it totally worth it in the end. You don't have to be a 14 year old teeny-bopper to enjoy this movie either - anyone can identify with that age-old sting of regret. This movie will surprise you with its intelligence, its humor, and its ability to leap over a few flaws that you'll forget by the credits. Of course, guys, you can just stare at Garner's perfect body the whole time if all else fails. Jennifer Garner: A+++; The Movie: B
Rating:
Summary: Well Done! Cutesy & Fun!
Review: I've never been a fan of Jennifer Garner, but she completely won me over as Jenna Rink, an awkward 13 year old trapped in the body of a successful, sophisticated 30 year old. I haven't seen a single episode of Garner's television series ALIAS, but I'm guessing she doesn't get the opportunity to flex her comedic muscles on that show very often. Too bad! In 13 GOING ON 30, she manages to be hilariously goofy and yet somehow incredibly charming at the same time. The major difference between 13 GOING ON 30 and the 1988 Tom Hanks film BIG is that Jenna doesn't simply just age seventeen years overnight. She actually lives the time between 1987 and 2004, though when she wakes up she's not aware of anything that happened to her during that time. In addition, her friends and family age along with her, again unlike what happened in BIG. Some of the film's funniest moments come right after Jenna's transfomation into the hip 30 year old she wished to be. She's literally floored by her own reflection, then shocked to discover a hunky, half-naked guy who calls her "Sweet Bottom" wandering around her posh NYC apartment. Being an 80's girl, she's clueless about modern technology so she's terrified by the sound of her own cell phone ringing. Baffled by the birthday wish come true, Jenna tracks down her childhood best friend Matt (Mark Ruffalo) in Greenwich Village. Unfortunately, Matt isn't too happy to see her since she treated him like dirt once she became a part of the snobby clique known as the Six Chicks. To her dismay, Jenna soon discovers that Matt isn't the only person she hasn't been very nice to over the years. She has her dream job as a top editor at POISE magazine, but it's clear that she's not the most popular person around the office. Worse still, she's no longer close with her parents. Despite everything, Matt helps Jenna adjust to her new life, and their friendship is restored. More than that, Jenna finds herself falling in love with her formerly dorky pal, but there's a problem--he's already engaged to another woman. Can Jenna make up for her past mistakes and win Matt's heart in the process? I'll just say this...the end will probably have you rolling your eyes, but it's still sweet. More importantly, thanks to Jennifer Garner's entertaining performance, getting there is tons of fun. Don't be surprised to see her get some recognition come awards season. At the very least, she should score a Golden Globe nomination, especially since the Hollywood Foreign Press has shown their approval of her work on ALIAS in the past. If you liked the 1988 Tom Hanks film BIG and/or the 2003 re-make of FREAKY FRIDAY starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, you should definitely give 13 GOING ON 30 a chance. The movie also features lots of great 80's music, including everything from "Head Over Heels" by The Go Go's to Michael Jackson's "Thriller", to what I think is a lesser known Billy Joel gem called "Vienna". I promise you'll leave the theater with a smile on your face!
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Entertaining
Review: I've got the ol' double X chromosome, and consequently, chick flicks aren't exactly my cup of tea. It's funny how preferences go out the window during a romantic relationship, because I'm becoming a bit of an expert on the genre. Until 13 Going on 30, I had enjoyed probably 2 chick flicks out of several thousand. Ok, not really, but it was a very tiny enjoyment ratio. I don't know what it is about 13 Going on 30, whether it's the script, Jennifer Garner, both...but this is a very good flick. It's often said that this is girl's answer to "Big," and I can honestly see this movie becoming exactly that once it's released on dvd. Jennifer Garner is outstanding, several parts actually made me laugh out loud in the theater of all women and their unhappy boyfriends, and also, I love "Thriller" even more now that I've seen this movie. To the fellas, pick this one up for your lady, it could score you some points. It's a good excuse too, because this is one movie that any man could buy and enjoy by himself. But we're not going to admit that.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun for Anyone
Review: I don't believe for one second that anyone could dislike this film. Anyone who says they don't like it must be lying! It's so much fun-- the kind of movie you wish would be made more often. Jenna (Jennifer Garner play the older Jenna, while the talented Christa B. Allen plays the younger) is a girl who just wants to fit in. On her thirteenth birthday, she invites the "Six Chicks," the most popular girls in school. The leader agrees to come, so long as Jenna agrees to do this girl's school project. Everything seems to be going great, but the Six Chicks are conspiring against Jenna the whole time, making Jenna end up in a closet crying and wishing she were "30 and Flirty." The next morning 13 year old Jenna wakes up in a gorgeouos apartment in a 30 year old body. Garner is excellent in a role that seems tailor made for her. It reminded me of how well Jamie Lee Curtis pulled off playing a sixteen year old in "Freaky Friday." Garner is just as fantastic, if not better. When it comes to movies like this (a la "Big" or "Vice Versa") believability is everything. It's also great how the story isn't as fluffy as one might think. Jenna is not only dealing with being a newfound 30 year old, but is learning just what kind of person she turned out to be... and she doesn't like it. The premise has obviously been visited before, but this is fresh and full of life and I guarantee you will like this movie. You'll want to dance along with Jenna to "Thriller" because you'll like it so much. Definitely check this one out! It shouldn't be missed!
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly fresh and funny - old themes given a new twist!
Review: Jenna Rink (Jennifer Garner), age 13, wants nothing more than to be "thirty, flirty, and thriving." But nothing prepares her for waking up one morning to find that her dream has come true. She stumbles out of bed only to find that she is in a strange house, and there's a naked man in her shower! Once Jenna manages to pull herself together, she sets out to discover just what's happened to her in the last 17 years, of which she has no recollection. She looks up her best friend from childhood, Matty (Mark Ruffalo), in hopes that he'll be able to help fill in the gaps. What she finds out, though, is that maybe, despite the fact that she's achieved all her childhood dreams, she's actually lost more than she's gained. Now, the basic theme of the movie has obviously been used before - someone wishes they could jump to a different time in their life (either forward or backward depending on their goals), only to discover that once they achieve this, it's not quite all they had hoped for and they'd like nothing better than to just go back to the way things were before. But the plot is given several fun twists that keep it from feeling hackneyed. The '80s theme throughout the movie is a delightful touch, and Jennifer Garner's comedic timing is perfect, providing us with tons of genuinely funny laughs. Some moments had the whole theater in stitches! We also see Jenna discover some truths about herself and undergo transformations that are touching. The overall moral message is that true friendship is more important, and has more long-term rewards, than high school popularity. All the actors did fantastic jobs. Jennifer Garner makes Jenna's character both touching and funny, and Mark Ruffalo is incredibly sweet and charismatic. The chemistry between the two is great. The show, however, is often stolen by the brilliant performance of Andy Serkis, who plays the adult Jenna's stuffy but loveable boss. You may know Serkis as the actor who provided Gollum's voice and actions in "The Lord of the Rings," and it's great to see him here in a more visible role. I'd definitely recommend this movie for a lighthearted weekend excursion. The ending is a little predictable, but it's done well and the overall effect is heartwarming. It's worth seeing in the theater, worth renting when it comes out, and even perhaps worth owning if you find you really like it. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing it again.
Rating:
Summary: Flashback!
Review: I saw this with my husband in the theater and we both loved it! It was an immediate favorite and we had to purchase it as soon as it came to DVD. The bloopers and extra cast footage is hilarious. I relived some of my own past memories all over again. The hair and the outfits made me feel like I'd gone back in time, and the movie truely makes you miss/enjoy being young and full of life. We definitely recommend this movie to anyone looking to have a few laughs and plenty of memorable moments.
Rating:
Summary: Flirty, Thirty and Thriving!
Review: When I first saw the previews for this movie, I thought it was going to be just awful. Then I saw it was being likened to the famous Tom Hanks movie, Big, and was also getting excellent reviews. I decided to go and see it, and I'm SO glad I did! The basic story is this: A cute 13 year old girl named Jenna Rink wants nothing but to be popular and friends with the "in" crown. She's best friends with her next door neighbor, Matt, but the cool girls don't like him so after they completely destroy her ego at her birthday party she ruins her friendship with Matt and wishes to become "flirty and thirty" like the women in her magazine. *poof* She turns in to herself at 30... gorgeous, stylish, famous magazine editor with everything she ever wanted. Jenna begins to realize being everything she ever wanted isn't quite what it's cracked up to be, especially when she reunites with the now 30 Matt, who turned in to quite a babe (played by Mark Ruffalo). There are some hilarious hijinks between the two as well as with Jenna at the magazine. Jennifer Garner is absolutely PERFECT in the role as Jenna! I thought she was cute, charismatic and played the role perfectly (well, except for the robotic acting in the first scene when she wakes up at 30). The supporting cast is great in this movie as well, especially Andy Serkis! He's infamous now for playing Gollum in the amazing Lord of the Rings movie and he really steals the show here as Jenna's eccentric boss! I'd never seen him in another role besides Gollum and I have to say, he was great! Very funny, and I loved every minute he was on the screen! Overall, this was a fantastic movie. Deep and moving? No, but it's not supposed to be! It's lighthearted, funny and has a great moral. Fun movie for all ages - five stars from me!
Rating:
Summary: Jennifer Garner Shines!
Review: There was a movie that came out a few years ago starring Tom Hanks called "Big." I never saw "Big" but I know what it is about nonetheless. It is about a boy who wants to be grown up or, well, big. He wakes up one mourning and he is still in the same year, except he is an adult. "13 Going on 30" is about a 13 year old girl who wants to be 30 years ago, and because of some magical wishing dust, she wakes up 17 years later looking like Jennifer Garner. The difference is that in "Big" the only thing that changes is Tom Hanks. Everything changes for Jennifer Garner in "13 Going on 30." "13 Going on 30" is one of those movies where you know everything that is going to happen before you sit down. As the movie goes on, you could figure out all of the little things that are going to happen. There is nothing really new going on in this movie. What makes it good is the way actress Jennifer Garner handles the role. Jennifer Garner's last movie is "Daredevil," and in that film she was too busy fighting and having sex with Ben Afflick to really have a role. In this movie, it is her first leading role, and she is able to handle the film by herself. She is the main star, and not the co-star like she normally is. She also proves that she has a knack for comedy movies. I predict that we will be seeing more movies with her in them in the future. The movie starts in 1987 and we meet Jenna Rink, who is a 13 year old girl who wants to be older. On her birthday, she invites the popular girls, including Lucy, to her party. They trick her in a very mean way, leading her to yell and get mad at her friend and next door neighbor Matt. She wishes that she was 30 years old, and her wish comes true after magic wishing dust sprinkles on the top of her head. The next day, she is a beautiful 30 year old in the year 2004. She has no idea what is going on, and whose house she is in, and who the strange man that is in her bathroom is. She finds out that she is the editor of her favorite magazine, and her best friend is that girl Lucy from when they were kids. Both of them work for Richard Kneeland. Jenna finds the grown up Matt, and learns that they have not been friends since the day of her birthday party, and have not even seen each other since high school ended. Matt isn't happy to see Jenna, and Jenna also finds out that while he became a very good photographer, she has become a very bad person that not many people like. More bad news happens when it turns out that a rival magazine is stealing their ideas. Jenna suddenly finds herself falling in love with Matt, and trying to save her company from being no more. Another good part of "13 Going on 30" is Andy Serkis. Andy Serkis was not in this movie much, but his preformance was very well done. He played Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings The Two Towers," and "The Lord of the Rings The Return of the King." Him and Jennifer Garner probably saved this entire movie from being a flop. I like how Jennifer Garner acted like a 13 year old in her body. She did what Jamie Lee Curtis did in "Freaky Friday" which was another great preformance. I liked "13 Going on 30." It was not a great film, but it was an amusing way to spend two hours or so. I am looking forward to the next movies that Jennifer Garner makes. ENJOY! Rated PG-13 for some sexual content and brief drug references.
Rating:
Summary: Jennifer Garner's performance survives a pretty bad script
Review: "13 Going on 30" proves that Jennifer Garner is going to be a star mainly because her performance carries us along through the flaws in the screenplay by Josh Goldsmith & Cathy Yuspa and Niels Mueller (guess who had it last). Having been the killjoy Hannah on "Felicity" and only pretending to have fun as Sydney Bristow on "Alias," Garner has a blast as Jenna Rink. As a 13-year-old Jenna (Christa B. Allen) dreams of being one of the popular kids but she wishes to be "thirty and flirty." At her birthday party she is the target of a cruel prank by Tom Tom (Alexandra Kyle), the leader of the Six Chicks, the ultra cool snobbish girls that Jenna desperately wants to join even though her best friend and neighbor Matt Flamhaff (Jack Salvatore Jr.) points out that would be mathematically impossible. Totally embarrassed Jenna snaps at Matt, makes her wish, and has it fulfilled by virtue of magic dust (What? You wanted hard science on how this happens?). The next Jenna knows it is seventeen years later and she has, apparently, everything she ever wished for (breasts) and more (a job as an editor for "Poise" magazine). Her best friend is Lucy (Judy Greer), who turns out to not only be Tom Tom grown up but another editor at the same magazine. Jenna immediately tracks down Matt (Mark Ruffalo), who is also all grown up, except he remembers everything that happened since the last time they spoke: the day of her 13th birthday party. At that point we know that two things are going happen. First, despite having the knowledge and experience of a 13 year old Jenna is going to be a success at her job. Second, despite having the knowledge and experience of a 13 year old Jenna is going to end up making out with Matt (but not the naked guy in her apartment). Yes, we have seen the idea of a kid in an adult's body from the original "Freaky Friday" to "Big" to the recent "Freaky Friday" and a dozen other movies in between. The lack of originality does not bother me with "13 Going on 30," but the lack of creativity with this script does. Excuse me while I rant for a while, because I really wanted to enjoy this movie. First, Jenna was out of date by the time she was 13 back in 1987. "Thriller" came out in 1982 and five years later young Jenna is making sure she has all of Michael Jackson's zombie moves down on the dance floor (you have to admit that this movie takes spontaneous group participation to a new level: instead of everyone bursting into a well known song this time around it is doing all the dance moves from a music video that is twenty years old). Rick Springfield's big hit, "Jessie's Girl" was a hit way back in 1981, while Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield" was big in 1983 (Note: Sometimes I tell viewers to be sure and watch the end credits; this time I am telling you to stay and LISTEN to the entire end credits). They make such a point of Jenna being 30 in the year 2004 that it makes tying the starting point to 1987 problematic. Gee, do you think that maybe this script was written four or five years ago? Second, leaping forward 17 years into the future presents Jenna with only one point of confusion: her cell phone. She has no problem walking in high heels, no other technological problems confront her, Eminem is the only new name she is confronted with, and if you really want to pick nits she never notices that the World Trade Center is missing. Okay, that is really quibbling, but they really should have been able to come up with some creative ways of her dealing with the brave new world in which she finds herself. Third, Jenna only succeeds in her job because the screenwriters wrote a scene in which everybody acts like she succeeded in doing her job. I thought the joke of "Magazine Publishing for Dummies" was good (I looked, Amazon does not sell the book), but that is still a kid's mind in that gorgeous body. Jenna needed to come up with a great idea and she did not even come up with a good idea. Meanwhile "Poise" has been scooped six months in a row by a rival magazine and the board is just starting to become concerned (when Bruce Springsteen showed up on the cover of both "Time" and "Newsweek" that was a bigger story that this). If I could talk about how that subplot plays out I could double the length of this rant with all the holes in that one. What holds "13 Going On 30" together is Garner's performance, which is far better than this script deserves. In a film like this there is always a moment when the main character has the chance to put things to right. When we get to that moment in this film it is disappointing because they should have been able to come up with something better. But then, we never really understood everything that happened to turn Jenna into a big success after her 13th birthday so we cannot expect the film to really connect the dots at the end either. The result is an unsatisfying film that fortunately will not start Jennifer Garner's rising star one whit. In fact, she is going to pick up momentum off of this one, she shines that much.
Rating:
Summary: This is the best movie Jenifer Garner has ever done!!
Review: This is a great movie for the whole family! This is a good movie to add to your family collection. This film is a bubbly spirit to it. It has an amazing soundtrack aswell. This is my favorite movie ever!!!
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