MPAA Rating: PG-13
Original Review Date: September 27, 2005
Reviewed by: Erin, Movie Muse
In a Nutshell: Very cute film, absolutely worth seeing!
Jennifer Garner is delightful. Even given its similarities to
Tom Hanks' Big, it still has its own charm and its own points to
make.
Quick Plot: Jenna makes a wish on her 13th birthday, and wakes
up the next day "30, flirty, and thriving." She remembers
nothing of the last 17 years, and looks up an old middle school
pal to try and figure out what she's been up to, and where she
is going in life.
In Detail: I am so glad I finally saw this movie. People kept
telling me I would like it, and they were right. Very cute,
very sweet, very well done. I was totally amazed by Jennifer
Garner. I don't know if this film reflects her personality at
all, but I *totally* believed she was looking at the world as
though she were 13. Even the nuances of being a "tween" in the
80s were perfectly carried (not surprising, since I guess she
was that age in that era). I was also quite charmed by Mark
Ruffalo, which makes me much more interested in seeing Just Like
Heaven (aka the new Reese Witherspoon movie). A somewhat
chick-flick, definitely feel good flick worth watching if you
ever get the chance.
Will I Buy It? Perhaps. I don't buy a lot of these types of
films, as they do start to get repetitive, and I'm not in the
mood to rewatch them often, but this one certainly has
potential. We'll see how many times I look into the DVD case
and say "I wish we had 13 Going on 30" before I decide.